At the 10 February 2025 Council Meeting, a question was raised about why the City of Greater Dandenong doesn’t offer parking permits – especially for elderly residents near the hospital, Chisholm, and other busy facilities. While the idea might seem like an easy fix, both research and local experience suggest that permits could end up creating more problems than they solve.
🚫 Exacerbating On-Street Parking Demand Through Misused Driveways
Residential parking permits might appear to solve parking shortages at first glance, but in practice they can backfire. In areas where homes lack built-in storage, residents might be tempted to repurpose their garages or driveways for storage, home offices, or even extra living space. This forces more cars onto already narrow, congested streets – creating a domino effect where one household’s decision pressures neighbours into similar compromises.
🚫 Administrative Burden and Enforcement Challenges
Implementing a permit system isn’t as straightforward as slapping on a sticker. Permits would need to display visible licence plate numbers and proof of residency, with annual checks to account for address changes or vehicle sales. Without strict oversight, there’s a risk of permits being resold or even shared illegally – an issue that Sydney’s Randwick Council has already grappled with. For Greater Dandenong, managing this would mean dedicating extra resources (and funds) away from vital services like road maintenance and public transport improvements.
🚫 Short-Term Fix, Long-Term Gridlock
While permits might ease parking stress for a few households in the short term, a broad roll-out could overwhelm available spaces. In busy areas near schools, shopping centres, or transport hubs, the mix of residents and non-residents vying for spots could create a “parking lottery” with no clear winner. In some regions, such schemes have even increased car dependency by simply redistributing parking rather than reducing the overall number of cars on the street.
Council Meeting Response: Addressing the Permit Debate
At the meeting, the following question was raised:
“Why does the City of Greater Dandenong not have parking permits? I have quite a few elderly residents who live near the hospital, Chisholm and large facilities where staff are taking all day parking, and these residents are unable to park near their houses. It would seem to justify a permit parking process, but Council does not entertain the idea of parking permits. Is there a way that we can overturn that?”
The initial response was straightforward:
“Yes, we do not provide parking permits. For these residents, I will ask my team to investigate and provide a solution. For the broader question, around the parking permits, we investigate at a later stage and see what the options are and what the benefits they could have.”
A further explanation clarified the council’s position:
- Increased On-Street Parking: Research shows that residential permit schemes typically boost the number of cars parked on the street.
- Trends in Other Councils: Many councils that once had permit systems are now phasing them out.
- Limited Eligibility: Such schemes usually work in areas with far more dwellings than available on-street parking spaces – often limiting permits to only those without off-street parking.
- Cost Implications: Permit schemes are generally offered at moderate to high costs, placing an extra burden on residents.
- Permit Resale Concerns: There’s a significant worry that permits might be resold to local businesses or commuters, undermining the system’s intent.
- Visitor Experience: In areas with permit schemes, visitors tend to have a poor parking experience.
Greater Dandenong has instead managed parking demands – especially those associated with hospitals, businesses, and other all-day uses – by implementing timed parking restrictions (like 2P parking during the day). This approach keeps streets clear during peak hours while still allowing residents to park overnight and on weekends. Council officers are more than happy to discuss further changes on any other streets with local residents.
Why Greater Dandenong Resists Permits
The city’s refusal to adopt parking permits isn’t about ignoring residents’ concerns – it’s about taking a holistic, long-term view of urban planning. Instead of a reactive “sticker solution,” Greater Dandenong is focused on:
- Discouraging Garage Misuse: Promoting better storage solutions and zoning reforms to maintain off-street parking.
- Investing in Alternatives: Improving bus routes, bike infrastructure, and pedestrian access to cut car dependency.
- Future-Proofing: Planning mixed-use developments with adequate parking, rather than relying on temporary fixes.
In the end, while parking permits might offer a short-term fix for some, they risk entrenching car-centric habits and ultimately make on-street parking even more competitive. The emphasis remains on tackling the root causes of congestion and investing in sustainable, community-friendly solutions.