A Melbourne council has forced residents to purchase digital permits to park outside their own homes, leaving ratepayers shocked and angry.
Stonnington City Council previously gave each household two free physical parking permits, but this month brought in the new paid system requiring residents to pay $60 for an annual permit, $90 for a second, and $100 for a third, meaning families with three cars will be slugged $250 a year.
Residents can also buy visitor permits for $120 a year, or one-off permits while hosting guests for $6.70 per vehicle. Eligible residents can also get half-price concession permits.
One local resident, Olivia Stiles, has started an online petition calling for an immediate halt to the digital permit scheme and associated fees, saying it amounted to being charged twice as she already pays council rates.
“This change places an unfair financial burden on households at a time when many are already struggling with rising living costs. Residents already pay rates to maintain local roads. Charging us again simply to park outside our own homes amounts to double‑charging and is unreasonable,” she wrote.
“The digital‑only system also creates significant barriers for older residents, people with limited digital access, and anyone who needs to organise visitor parking for carers, family, or support workers. A parking system should make daily life easier, not harder.
“Many residents were not aware that these changes were being considered. The lack of meaningful consultation has left the community feeling unheard and excluded from decisions that directly affect our homes and daily routines.”
A Stonnington City Council spokesperson told 9News other Melbourne councils were making similar changes, and that the free permit model was financially unsustainable.
“As the municipality has grown, demand for on-street parking has increased while available space has remained limited,” they said.
“At the same time, Victorian councils are facing increasing financial pressures due to rising costs, constrained revenue and reduced funding certainty.”
The council also said it ran two community consultations periods, although most of the recorded responses were negative and called for street parking to remain free.
“Feedback received included concerns about cost-of-living pressures, parking availability and the fact that a permit does not guarantee a space,” the spokesperson said.
Header image: One of the affected streets (change.org).
