Adopted by Brimbank Council 20 August 2019

1.1. Purpose................................................................................................ 4

1.2. Scope .................................................................................................. 4

1.3. Approach to preparing the Strategy ......................................................... 5

2.1. Council’s role ........................................................................................ 6

2.2. Why does car parking policy matter? ....................................................... 6

3.1. Overarching Council Strategy.................................................................. 8

3.2. Transport policies .................................................................................. 9

3.3. Environmental sustainability ................................................................. 10

3.4. Other policies...................................................................................... 11

5.1. React, manage or transform?................................................................ 14

5.2. Framework for the Strategy .................................................................. 15

5.3. Principles............................................................................................ 16

6.1. Issues ................................................................................................ 17

6.2. Objectives .......................................................................................... 18

6.3. Strategies and actions.......................................................................... 18

7.1. Issues ................................................................................................ 21

7.2. Objectives .......................................................................................... 22

7.3. Strategies and actions.......................................................................... 22

8.1. Issues ................................................................................................ 25

8.2. Objectives .......................................................................................... 25

8.3. Strategies and actions.......................................................................... 26

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9.1. Issues ................................................................................................ 28

9.2. Strategies and actions.......................................................................... 29

Appendix A Overall approach to managing, providing, planning and

advocating for parking ......................................................................................... 36

Appendix B Guidance on allocating Council-managed public parking spaces:

hierarchy of priority users .................................................................................... 39

Appendix C Guidance on use of parking demand management controls for

Council-managed public parking spaces ................................................................. 44

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1. Introduction

1.1. Purpose

Car parking is an important component of Brimbank’s transport system with travel by

car the most common means of travel in the municipality and most car journeys starting

and finishing at a car parking space. Car parking policy has significant impacts on

transport outcomes, influencing people’s transport choices, the level of access provided

to jobs, shopping areas and social opportunities and levels of congestion on the road

network.

Brimbank City Council is actively involved in parking through its roles in:



Managing public on and off-street parking facilities through setting time limits,

pricing and accompanying enforcement of parking controls



Providing parking spaces as part of the street network and with dedicated off-street

facilities at activity centres and as part of Council-managed community facilities



Regulating minimum on-site parking requirements for development through the

Planning Scheme



Influencing and advocating other organisations involved in the provision of parking

such as shopping centres and state government agencies that provide parking at

locations such as railway stations.

The purpose of this Parking Strategy is to establish strategic direction that guides a

consistent and effective Council approach across these four parking functions. It provides

direction for parking policy that is consistent with working towards Council’s broader

aspirations for Brimbank. The strategy sets out guiding principles, objectives for parking

and a package of strategies and Council-led actions for achieving these objectives.

1.2. Scope

The Parking Strategy provides an overarching framework that will guide Council in

responding to local parking issues in a transparent and consistent way across the

municipality. This Strategy will be supplemented by local Parking Management Plans that

provide more detailed guidance for specific precincts where parking issues are

particularly acute. The Strategy will also be accompanied by specific Council policies that

provide further detail on topics such as parking enforcement, priced parking and

residential parking permits.

The Strategy sets out a package of actions that will guide Council activity on parking

over the period 2019 -2029. It is intended that this Strategy will be reviewed after five

years or earlier if required.

The Strategy establishes a strategic approach and actions across Council’s functions

related to parking management, provision and planning. The Strategy focuses on parking

for motor vehicles and strategies for bicycle parking will be best established as part of

policy work for cycling.

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1.3. Approach to preparing the Strategy

The Parking Strategy has been prepared through an extensive Council process involving

consultation with the community, stakeholders, Council staff and Councillors. Transport

planning consultants, MRCagney, have provided independent expert advice in preparing

the Strategy that draws on local and international best practice for parking management.

In preparing the Strategy a range of policy responses and strategic approaches have

been considered and this Strategy reflects an agreed position that takes account of

multiple Council, stakeholder and community views.

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2. Council's role in car parking

2.1. Council’s role

Council plays a significant role in the management, supply and regulation of car parking

in Brimbank to ensure parking adequately supports access to community facilities and

parking demand for private development does not adversely impact the broader

community. While Council is a significant provider of public parking, a range of other

stakeholders also influence the supply and management of car parking in many locations

across Brimbank, including, private developers, shopping centres, VicTrack, educational

institutions, and major employers.

Council influences parking in Brimbank in the following four ways:



– Council applies and enforces parking conditions at its on and off

street parking facilities to manage demand and maintain appropriate access for

priority users. Parking conditions include time limits, permit systems, reserved

spaces (including for people with a disability), and priced parking. Council may

monitor a range of factors including occupancy and duration of stay to tailor

management tools in different locations.



– Council provides on-street parking and in some locations public off

street parking facilities (e.g. activity centres, parks, community centres, etc.)



– Council enforces minimum parking provision requirements for

development using the Planning Scheme, and curates a broader suite of transport

and land use policies that can impact on levels of car use and parking demand.



– Council collaborates with and advocates to a range of organisations to

influence transport, land use and parking outcomes in Brimbank. This may involve

State planning of public transport services, State and Federal activity centre

planning, or liaison with private developers, etc.

2.2. Why does car parking policy matter?

The role of parking is complex and can contribute both positively and negatively to urban

areas. Car parking is an essential element of a car-based transport system, and because

of this, parking policies are one of the most important influences on our transport and

lifestyle choices.

Conventional approaches to planning for car parking have placed an emphasis on

‘predicting and providing’ parking supply to match demand. The supply of car parking

provided by this approach incentivises car ownership and use, working against transport

policies aiming for less traffic congestion and more walking, cycling and public transport

use. Parking supply also takes up significant space, with a single space occupying 12 –

35 square metres and constituting a significant opportunity cost from lost potential for

higher-value land uses. Requiring high levels of on-site parking accompanying private

development can increase development costs, impacting on broader objectives such as

housing affordability.

Car parking can contribute positively to accessibility and connectivity by enabling access

to homes, shops, services, schools and jobs. However, an overabundance of car parking

has a number of implications for urban areas including:

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

Economic development – provision of off-street parking takes up valuable floor

space and increases development costs;



Travel and lifestyle – an abundance of low-cost parking has stimulated excessive

demand for car-based travel and lifestyle;



Sustainability – excessive vehicle use impacts on the economic, social and

environmental sustainability of villages, towns and cities;



Amenity – car parking, particularly at grade car parks can detract from local

amenity and can erode the sense of place and character of urban environments;



Social equity – the compliance costs created by minimum parking rates fall

disproportionately on low income households;



Urban form – requiring the provision of parking individually on each site

fragments the urban form and takes away valuable space for other land uses;

and



Cost – publicly owned car parks require direct financial investment from Council

to provide and maintain.

Professional and academic work on parking is increasingly finding evidence of benefits

from a more managed approach to parking. Managing parking demand and supply can

be a powerful lever for achieving sustainable transport objectives. In activity centres,

managing parking can mean less infrastructure spend for councils, more walking in

centres, longer stays and larger spends in centres. Leaving the market to play a greater

role in deciding on levels of supply on private land can reduce development costs and

increase flexibility of land use.

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3. Policy context

The Brimbank Car Parking Strategy intersects with a range of existing plans and

strategies. The strategy supports the City of Brimbank’s broader vision and objectives

and articulates the role that Council’s approach to parking plays in meeting these goals.

There are a number of municipal wide and local plans which have informed the

development of this Strategy. Figure 1 provides an overview of the relationship between

the Parking Strategy and other key Council plans and policies which have informed the

preparation of this Strategy.

3.1. Overarching Council Strategy

The Brimbank Community Vision 2040 outlines high-level aspirations across several

areas of relevance to parking strategy including:



‘Services and facilities are responsive to community need’



‘All modes of transport are well connected and accessible’



‘Public spaces and streetscapes showcase quality urban design, are accessible to all

and are clean and well maintained’



‘The community will live sustainably and engage with a healthy and protected natural

environment’



‘Brimbank is a major hub for employment, innovation and investment’



‘Housing meets the needs of different people in the Brimbank community’.

The aspirations identified in the Brimbank Community Plan give direction to the

development of parking policy in Brimbank. An emphasis is placed on responding to the

diverse needs of the Brimbank community, enhancing connectivity across a wide range

Brimbank Community Vision 2040

Brimbank Council Plan 2017-2021

Transport Strategy

and Policy

Enviromental

Sustainability

Framework

Activity Centre

and Economic

Development

Place Based

Plans and

Strategies

The Brimbank Council Plan 2017 - 21 sets an overall plan for Council over four years and

is organised by four key policy directions including: ‘An inclusive community’, ‘A liveable

community’, ‘A prosperous community’ and ‘An innovative and responsive ‘community

first’ Council’. Strategic objectives within these themes of most relevance to parking

management include:



“People have opportunities to participate in community life”



“People can get around easily on foot, by bike, car or public transport”



“Our community lives sustainably”



“The local economy is strong and provides opportunities for the community to

thrive”.

Parking policy that is consistent with these objectives will need to ensure that parking is

managed in a way that ensures the community has easy and multi-modal access to work

and social opportunities while also contributing to sustainability objectives and a strong

local economy.

3.2. Transport policies

Existing City of Brimbank transport and land use policy acknowledges that the region is

changing significantly, with increased population growth and employment opportunities.

Brimbank City Council draws on a series of policy documents to support transport

decision-making. Key transport policy documents relevant to parking management

include the following:

The Brimbank Transport Priorities Paper 2018 highlights the major transport

infrastructure improvements that will make a difference to creating a connected city, in

consideration of the current State Government transport priorities and the emerging

Sunshine National Employment and Innovation Cluster. It focusses on the following

themes:



Building better road connections



Walking and cycling



Removing at grade rail crossings



Improving the bus network



Connecting the freight network



Better train services.

The Brimbank Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017 provides guidance on developing a

sustainable transport system that supports health, social and economic outcomes. The

policy has objectives for:

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

Delivering affordable and accessible transport solutions for Brimbank’s residents



Reducing transport disadvantage for Brimbank residents and strengthening local

cohesion



Advocating for increased funding and resources to strengthen social cohesion and

community wellbeing.

This strategy responds to these objectives by recognising the important role that car

parking plays in providing access to opportunities in the context of a transport system

that is heavily reliant on cars. It also addresses transport disadvantage by using parking

policy to support the development of a more multi-modal transport system that provides

affordable access and reduces transport disadvantage.

The Brimbank Cycling and Walking Strategy 2016 provides a framework to guide

investment, improve safety and support walking and cycling in Brimbank. The Strategy

provides an implementation plan with a list of prioritised actions over a 15 year period.

The Strategy objectives include:



Establishing a network that reflects public needs a plan of prioritised routes and a

schedule to assist in developing the network



Establishing guidelines and treatments for ‘local connector routes’



Establishing guidelines and treatments for directional and way finding signage.

3.3. Environmental sustainability

Council’s long-term transport goals are also closely linked to Council’s sustainability

strategies (for example the Brimbank Revised Greenhouse Reduction Strategy 2018)

which encourage the use of public and sustainable transport modes instead of private

vehicles. Parking policy can be powerful Council lever for managing private vehicle

demand and achieving sustainable transport goals.

A parking policy can be a powerful Council lever for managing private vehicle demand

and achieving sustainable transport goals. The Brimbank Environmental Sustainability

Policy 2017 and Brimbank Environmental Sustainability Framework provide a strategic

path to achieve a range of sustainability priorities, including a reduction in carbon

emissions and pollutants entering our waterways.

The Brimbank Greenhouse Reduction Strategy 2018 commits Council to reducing its

greenhouse gas emissions by 50% of 2011 levels by 2022/23, including Council reducing

emissions from its fleet via emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, and commits

Council to advocate for improved alternative transport provision within Brimbank,

including public transport, walking and cycling.

Other relevant strategic documents include the Brimbank Climate Change Adaptation

Framework 2017, which highlights the concern of a warming climate and heat island

stress, which is particularly acute in Brimbank. Parking management approaches through

the Car Parking Strategy can be an effective measure to reduce heat island stress and to

assist the community in adapting to climate change. Finally, the Brimbank Sustainable

Water Strategy 2018 identifies the large expanse of impervious areas provided by car

parks and their impact on stormwater volumes waterways, including stormwater

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pollutants from parked vehicles. Parking management and the use of such treatments

including water sensitive urban design (WSUD), helps reduce these stormwater concerns

and provides significant benefit to the health of waterways and creeks.

3.4. Other policies

The Brimbank Planning Scheme is the key land use planning policy document for

Brimbank and controls development across the municipality. Within the Planning Scheme

are controls that set requirements for on-site parking accompanying development.

Policy documents are also in place for individual activity centres with structure plans

prepared for Sunshine and St Albans. Each plan sets out long-term objectives for the

centres and provides guidance on management of built development, the public realm,

transport and economic development.

The Sunshine Town Centre Structure Plan 2014 outlines Council’s strategy for realising

the Sunshine Town Centre’s full potential as a capital of Melbourne’s west and to fulfil its

role. Sunshine is also an important part of the Sunshine National Employment and

Innovation Cluster which extends to the St Albans Town Centre 2015 and includes the

Sunshine Health and Wellbeing Precinct. Relevant to car parking, the Sunshine Town

Centre Structure Plan 2014 recognises problems from car dependence and large areas of

central land used for surface car parking. It aims to address these problems through

shifting transport demand away from cars to more sustainable modes as well as

intensification of land use within the activity centre.

Similarly, the St Albans Structure Plan 2015 sets out policy guidance for managing

change to the centre over a 15-year timeframe and takes into account the longer term

30-year planning horizon. With regard to car parking, the plan aims to reduce the impact

of traffic and car parking on the street environment through consolidated public parking

structures, and expansion of pedestrian space on Alfreida Street and Victoria Crescent.

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4. Our community and the parking challenge

The City of Brimbank is home to an estimated resident population of 207,009 people as

at 30 June 2017 people (ID Community), and our culturally rich and diverse community

is expected to grow to 230,000 by 2041. We are the second largest municipality by area

in Metropolitan Melbourne, and our residents live predominantly in detached houses

characteristic of Melbourne’s post-war suburban growth.

Our suburban form and relatively low population density (16 people per hectare) means

it is difficult to provide Brimbank with fast and frequent public transport, and while we

are a middle-ring municipality (stretching from approximately 11-23 km northwest of the

Melbourne CBD), Brimbank suffers from relatively poor public transport services outside

of key activity centres. This transport disadvantage means many people rely on private

cars to access jobs, shops, and to maintain social connection in Brimbank, which

influences our community’s parking needs. As a result, past parking management

approaches have sought to satisfy high demands for parking with supply of parking.

However, this has unintentionally made it more difficult to provide attractive and

walkable town centres and competitive bus services.

Reliance on car travel is reflected in car ownership rates for the municipality. Census

data shows that 54% of households in Brimbank have access to two or more motor

vehicles, compared to 51% in Greater Melbourne, and 76% of trips to work are made by

private vehicle in Brimbank, compared to the Melbourne average of 64%. A strong body

of evidence shows that car-based travel is expensive, dangerous and poor for our health

and wellbeing compared to other modes, so it is important that urban policy in Brimbank

provides a range of practical and competitive alternative transport choices, whilst

acknowledging car parking is important to the everyday needs of many residents.

Much of our future growth is expected to occur within the activity centres of Sunshine, St

Albans and Sydenham, which enjoy access to railway stations and a better range of bus

services. These centres will support a thriving mix of residents, jobs and unique retail

and food offerings, and can introduce less car dependent housing options to the

municipality. Ensuring these well serviced locations provide diverse housing options,

vibrant town centres, and adequate accessibility for people from all over the municipality

will be a key challenge. Furthermore, with such change expected, it will be important to

ensure parking from new development does not negatively impact the safety or amenity

of nearby residential streets. It will also be important to consider the potential impact

and change arising from the increasing incidence of autonomous vehicles.

Finally, our parking strategy needs to better serve the requirements of our residents with

a disability. Approximately 6.4% of our population have a self-reported disability, and

the supply, location and design of accessible parking spaces needs to improve to better

meet their needs.

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Table 1 provides an outline of the parking challenges and desired outcomes this Strategy

addresses.

Fair access to key destinations by all transport

modes across Brimbank.

Urban development that does not support

walking, bike riding, and quality public

transport.

Well located accessible parking for people with

a disability.

Inappropriate prioritisation of users of parking

spaces

Shared use of well-designed consolidated

parking facilities that contribute to a compact

urban form and shorter walking distances.

Numerous expansive surface car parks that

contribute to disjointed urban forms and longer

walking distances.

Quality streets, quality development and

diverse housing options.

Onerous minimum parking requirements that

discourage quality development

Efficient land use along public transport routes

that supports viable public transport and

maximises access to public transport.

Significant supply of surface parking around

public transport stops

Greater use of active modes to get around

within activity centres.

Multiple short car trips within activity centres.

Safe and comfortable residential streets

Use of public on-street parking to store private

vehicles.

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5. Strategic framework

5.1. React, manage or transform?

There are a range of potential approaches that can underpin local government parking

policy. Table 2 categorises three distinct ways that were investigated by Brimbank City

Council in reviewing how to approach parking policy and preparing this Parking Strategy.

Respond to acute and obvious

parking problems in a reactive

way.

Take action in response to

community complaint.

Take growing parking demand

as given and attempt to

provide for demand with more

supply.

Use a strategic and policy-led

approach to systematically

address parking problems.

Manage (rather than provide

for) parking demand using a

range of demand management

tools.

Consider the broader costs and

benefits of parking policy and

ensure public street space and

land used for parking is

meeting its highest and best

use.

Transform parking supply by

re-purposing low-use parking

space alongside managing

demand.

This range of potential strategic approaches generally aligns with the following spectrum

of parking policy approaches commonly referred to in the professional literature:

1



Conventional parking policy – parking viewed as ‘essential infrastructure’ and a public

good for which Council should ensure adequate provision. Council parking

management focuses on ‘predicting and providing’ parking supply to match demand;

both on private property by requiring minimum on-site parking requirements and in

public spaces by ensuring ample on- and off-street parking supply (usually provided

free of charge).



Parking management – parking viewed as a valuable resource for which demand

should be actively managed to achieve multiple economic and social objectives.

Council parking management focuses on managing demand within limited supply

using a range of tools such as time limits and pricing rather than attempting to

provide unrestricted supply to meet demand.



Market-based parking – parking viewed as a market rather than public good. Council

management focuses on using price-based tools to allocate demand for public

parking, reduced public involvement in parking supply and reduced regulatory

requirements for private on-site provision.

This Strategy follows a ‘Parking Management’ approach and recognises that past Council

parking policy in Brimbank has followed a more ‘conventional’ or ‘reactive’ policy

approach (as has been common across Australian cities). There is a growing awareness

of the shortcomings of this conventional approach and its unintended consequences in

promoting unnecessary car use, congestion, poor-quality urban development and land

use outcomes.

1

Barter, P. A. (2009, September). Three paradigms in parking policy and their relevance to Australian cities. In

. SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre, Auckland, New Zealand, October (Vol.

29).

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While the Strategy generally accords with the ‘manage’ approach, Council has a long

term aspiration to shift toward a ‘transform’ approach to parking policy and some of the

actions in this Strategy fit within this more ambitious policy approach.

5.2. Framework for the Strategy

Figure 2 illustrates the overall framework underlying the Strategy. The Strategy has an

overarching vision expressing Council’s aspiration for what effective parking

management will achieve. Six principles provide guidance to underlying objectives and

actions.

The objectives articulate Council’s desired outcomes or ‘what success looks like’ and are

distinct for each of the four Brimbank contexts within which parking management is

particularly relevant: activity centres, residential areas, out-of-centre transport demand

generators and railway stations. Each context has distinct parking issues and needs. For

this reason, the strategies and actions are organised by each of these contexts. The

Strategy identifies 47 actions which will guide Council activity in achieving the vision and

objectives of the Parking Strategy.

Cutting across the four contexts in which parking policy is relevant, the framework also

identifies four key parking functions where Council plays a role. The actions identified for

Council each apply to one of these functions:



Management – Council’s involvement in setting and enforcing parking restrictions for

its on and off-street parking facilities (e.g. time limits, permit systems, reserved

spaces) and paid parking areas including ongoing monitoring of parking activity.



Provision – Council’s involvement in developing on- and off-street space to provide

for car parking (activities range from allocating kerbside space for car parking,

developing stand-alone buildings for car parking, or providing off-street car parks at

Council facilities).



Planning – Council’s involvement in making land-use planning policy that impacts on

parking including setting on-site car parking rates accompanying property

development and a broader suite of transport policies that can impact on levels of car

use and parking demand.



Advocacy – Council activities in influencing and collaborating with other organisations

to effect parking outcomes (e.g. working with shopping centres, hospitals and

universities on parking issues).

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The overall approach to managing, providing, planning and advocating for parking is

further explained at Appendix A and provides the basis for the development of a car

parking policy.

5.3. Principles

The following six principles are foundations for the strategies and actions identified:



Fairness: parking policy and management tools will be implemented with transparent

processes. Parking will be allocated fairly and enforcement of parking rules will not impose

undue costs to users.



Access for all: car parking will facilitate access to places and people for Brimbank’s community

and will meet the needs of people with special access requirements.



Affordability: car parking will be provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner that

represents best value to Council.



Management first: existing car parking assets and resources will be managed to improve

efficiency before increasing provision.



Sustainability: parking policy will support a shift to sustainable travel modes and minimise the

environmental impact of cars and car parking facilities.

Kerbside space is shared by a range of people with different needs in Brimbank’s activity

centres. It can provide pick up and drop off space, conveniently located on-street

parking, space for deliveries, room for riding bikes, or space for expanded footpaths and

streetscaping. An ongoing issue for Brimbank is maintaining fair access to those with the

greatest need while delivering the highest value to the broader community.

Competition for well-located on-street spaces sometimes means people with a genuine

need for convenient and highly accessible parking, including people with a disability, do

not have access to parking that meets their needs. Meanwhile, on and off-street parking

within a reasonable walking distance to a main street is often available. Parking needs to

be managed to ensure demand is efficiently distributed throughout activity centres, and

safe, comfortable and inviting walking environments are needed for people to feel

comfortable parking a short walk from their destination.

Brimbank City Council provides parking in several off-street facilities in activity centres

to help facilitate access for the community. These facilities are mostly surface car parks

that spread car parking spaces across large activity centre sites. Car parking, particularly

in this configuration, is expensive to provide, uses large areas of high value land that

could otherwise be used for infill residential or commercial development, and contributes

to disconnected urban forms that increase walking distances and contribute to uninviting

places for people to walk, stop and stay. Furthermore, large surface car parks provide a

significant amount of parking in poorly accessible locations that are unsafe and poorly

activated at night. As our activity centres develop, Brimbank’s large surface car parks

will create a barrier to quality, well-located development close to public transport, shops,

employment and community services.

Our municipality’s prevailing suburban form and the region’s disadvantaged access to

public transport means many people will continue to rely on publicly available parking in

activity centres, however, this public parking should be consolidated in a small number

of well-designed, well-located and accessible stand-alone facilities that will minimise

impacts on the public realm and release high value sites for use as public open space,

housing, or commercial development.

Manage

Use a full range of demand

management tools including

time limits, pricing and

special purpose parking

zones to allocate parking to

high priority users and

ensure efficient utilisation

1.1 Develop and implement Parking Management

Plans for activity centres (with first priority to

Sunshine and St Albans) that apply parking controls in

a way that is consistent with the Hierarchy of Priority

Users and Guidance on Use of Parking Demand

Management Tools (See Appendices A and B).

1.2 Develop a Priced Parking Policy to guide the

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implementation of pricing structures, payment

systems, and Council’s use of revenue.

Enforce parking controls to

manage demand

1.3 Develop and follow a Parking Enforcement Plan to

guide staffing requirements, enforcement procedures,

use of technology, and selection of priority locations

for enforcement.

Monitor parking demand

1.4 Develop and implement a Parking Monitoring Plan

to detail an ongoing parking monitoring programme

for the municipality that includes regular monitoring of

demand at activity centres.

Provide

Use technology and

communications to improve

the management of car

parking

1.5 Investigate options to procure parking technology

systems to aid monitoring, enforcement and user

information for parking.

Consolidate existing supply

of car parking

1.6 Undertake further strategic work to identify

existing parking facilities that should be re-purposed,

suitable locations for consolidated public parking, and

the size of new consolidated facilities.

Provide well-designed on

and off-street parking

facilities

1.7 Develop a Parking Facilities Design Guide detailing

how green infrastructure, water sensitive urban

design, respect for heritage, and crime prevention

through environmental design can be incorporated into

the design of parking for different street types and for

off-street parking facilities.

Plan

Develop an Integrated

Transport Strategy for

Brimbank

1.8 Continue to advocate for State Government to

undertake an Integrated Transport Strategy for

Melbourne’s west, including sufficient detail to enable

integrated transport planning at the Brimbank local

municipal level.

Support the development of

well-designed car parks

which contribute to

environmental

sustainability, sense of place

and perceptions of

community safety

See Action 1.7.

Manage, provide, plan and 1.9 Develop a car parking policy to guide Council’s

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advocate for parking from a

policy basis

approach to managing, providing, planning and

advocating for parking. Refer to Appendix A as the

basis for the policy.

Introduce revised car

parking rates into the

Brimbank Planning Scheme

1.10 Undertake further strategic work to identify

reduced parking rates for new development in activity

centres and the geographic extent of applicable

parking overlays.

1.11 Following strategic work, prepare a planning

scheme amendment to incorporate a Parking Overlay

into the Brimbank Planning Scheme, with a focus on

locations with strong access to public transport and

local services.

Monitor transport

technology changes and

implications for car parking

1.12 Monitor uptake of electric vehicles and consider

introducing requirements for electric vehicle charging

infrastructure as part of Planning Scheme on-site

parking requirements.

Require the preparation of a

Green Travel Plans for major

developments to provide a

plan for demand for workers

and visitors will be met in a

sustainable and efficient

way

1.13 Continue to require the preparation of a Green

Travel Plan by a suitably qualified professional for

development in accordance with the newly introduced

provisions in the Brimbank Planning Scheme.

Advocate

Collaborate with major

private parking property

owners to encourage

desired parking outcomes

1.14 Encourage the shared use of private off-street

car parks between multiple user groups.

1.15 Continue to engage with developers during the

planning application process to encourage desired

parking outcomes.

Advocate to the State

Government to improve

public transport

connections.

1.16 Encourage the State Government to provide high

frequency, integrated bus networks to all areas of

Brimbank.

1.17 Continue to work with key stakeholders and

property owners in the Sydenham Town Centre and

surrounding area to address commuter parking and

car parking generally.

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

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7. Parking in residential areas

7.1. Issues

Council is the provider and manager of on-street car parking in residential areas of the

municipality. The majority of Brimbank’s housing stock has access to off-street car

parking in the form of a driveway, garage or car park. There are, however, some areas

of the municipality where dwellings do not have off-street car parks or where the

available off-street car parking supply does not match the needs of residents.

Council receives regular feedback from residents about parking in their street. Such

feedback often relates to a perceived lack of parking, instances of illegal parking, and

perceived safety issues. As in much of Metropolitan Melbourne, there is limited

systematic monitoring of parking issues in residential areas and little data available

about the extent of problems. There is anecdotal evidence that in some locations parking

demand ‘overspills’ on to residential streets.

There are four key issues relating to residential on-street car parking to consider in

Brimbank:



There is an expectation from many residents that Council should supply and manage

on-street parking such that residents can park and store private vehicles on their

street.



Some residents perceive a reduction in convenience, safety or amenity when on

street parking is highly utilised on their street.



There is a common community perception that higher density housing generally

undersupplies parking and the resulting excess demand spills on to local streets (this

highlights interaction between on-site parking requirements and on-street parking

management).



As in much of Metropolitan Melbourne, there is limited systematic monitoring of

parking issues in residential areas and little data available about the extent of

problems.

As identified above there is an interaction between on-site car parking provision and

residential on-street parking management.

There is a need to carefully balance providing enough on-site car parking for new

development while not oversupplying on-site car parking. Providing too little on-site car

parking may generate an unacceptable demand for on-street car parking while providing

too much can increase the cost of housing development and incentivise car use.

Within all Victorian Planning Schemes, the requirement for car parking is set out in

Clause 52.06. This state-level clause sets out the standards and rates for provision and

design of car parking for different land uses in each municipality within the state of

Victoria.

Due to the car parking provision being linked to state-level policy, issues arising from car

parking at a local level are in many ways directly linked to the overarching standardised

car parking framework that is governed at state-level.

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

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Some key issues associated with car parking requirements being enforced at a state

level include:



Minimum parking requirements set out under Clause 52.06 are particularly high

against comparable interstate and international contexts



Minimum parking rates add to costs of development, potentially impacting on

housing affordability



Minimum rates can incentivise car ownership and work against sustainable transport

goals



On-site rates are designed to reduce problems with on-street parking. On-site and

on-street management needs to be conducted in tandem.



Only 50% of Melbourne municipalities have introduced parking overlays into their

planning schemes. This could be because behavioural change associated with

transport modal shift takes time and there is still a strong perception about the

preference for individual car based travel.

7.2. Objectives

Council’s management of on-street parking in residential areas is guided by the following

objective:



Objective 2A: On-street parking is efficiently utilised and, where scarce, is actively

managed to prioritise the needs of residents

The provision of on-street car parking by Council in residential areas aims to ensure:



Objective 2B: On-street parking provision is designed to contribute to safe, high

amenity urban streets

Council’s role in influencing on-site parking requirements for new development through

land-use planning will be guided by the following objectives:



Objective 2C: On-site parking accompanying new development is provided at a level

that meets the diverse needs of residents.



Objective 2D: New development is accompanied by less parking facilities because

people are using sustainable transport more where available.

7.3. Strategies and actions

Council will pursue the following strategies and actions for addressing the identified

issues and achieving the objectives related to parking in residential areas:

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

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Manage

Use demand management

tools including time limits,

residential parking permits

and special purpose parking

zones to allocate parking to

high priority users and

ensure efficient utilisation

2.1 Use the Hierarchy of Priority Users and Guidance

on Use of Parking Demand Management (See

Appendices A and B) to guide application of parking

controls and respond to residential complaints about

parking issues.

2.2 Develop and implement a Residential Parking

Permit Policy to guide delivery of the Residential

Parking Permit Scheme.

Enforce areas where parking

controls and residential

permit schemes are in place

to manage demand

See Action 1.3.

Provide

Provide well-designed on

street parking facilities

See Action 1.7.

Plan

Review car parking rates for

residential land uses in the

Brimbank Planning Scheme

2.3 Undertake further strategic work to identify

appropriate residential parking rates for new

development and applicable overlay locations (likely

areas zoned for higher intensity development)

2.4 Following strategic work, prepare a planning

scheme amendment to incorporate a Parking Overlay

into the Brimbank Planning Scheme, with a focus on

locations with strong access to public transport and

local services.

Direct higher intensity

residential development

within easy walking distance

of public transport services,

employment, educational

facilities and activity

centres.

2.5 Encourage greater residential densities in master

planned infill and renewal sites within Brimbank in

accordance with the Brimbank Housing Strategy.

Encourage the ‘unbundling’

of car parking from

dwellings in large

developments.

2.6 Consider the development of multi-unit

developments with car parking layouts which enable

car spaces to be leased or sold separately to dwellings

in large developments.

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

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Require the preparation of a

Green Travel Plans for all

developments of three or

more units to provide a plan

for how transport needs of

new residents will be met in

a sustainable and efficient

way

See Action 1.12

Monitor transport

technology changes and

implications for car parking

See Action 1.11.

Manage demand for car

parking at in residential

areas by encouraging

uptake of active transport

alternatives.

2.7 Improve the quality of walking and cycling

infrastructure in targeted locations in accordance with

the Brimbank Cycling and Walking Strategy.

Advocate

Encourage the provision of

car share schemes within

residential areas of

Brimbank to enable the

adoption of car-free

lifestyles

2.8 Develop a Car Share policy to provide certainty to

car share operators and manage the orderly provision

of car share services in Brimbank

2.8 Engage with car share providers to encourage

their entry into Brimbank.

2.10 Support the conversion of Council managed

kerbside and off-street spaces to car share pods.

2.11 Engage with developers through the planning

application process and encourage developers to

provide car share spaces.

Advocate to the State

Government to improve

public transport

connections.

See Action 1.15

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

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8. Parking around out-of-centre transport

demand generators

8.1. Issues

While many major transport demand generators such as schools, shopping centres,

recreational centres and hospitals are located within activity centres, Brimbank also has

several areas outside of activity centres that attract major parking demands. Key

locations where competition for public on-street parking can cause issues include:



Hospitals - where high levels of parking demand spill-over from off-street to on

street facilities for both long-stay staff parking and short-stay visitor parking

(particularly around Sunshine Hospital)



Industrial areas - with high worker demand for on-street long-stay parking



Places of worship - particularly in industrial areas that are poorly serviced by public

transport and with limited off-street parking. On special event days, parking

demands can negatively impact neighbouring areas (e.g. parked cars encroaching on

driveways and other access points)



Universities - where high levels of parking demand spill-over from off-street to on

street facilities (e.g. around Victoria University, St Albans and Sunshine campuses)



Schools - with high peak-period demand for pick-up and drop-off space at kerbsides



Other community facilities - including community centres, leisure centres, libraries

and sporting venues (e.g. peak period demands around sports fields).

Key conflicts between parking user groups in these locations where a major transport

demand generator is adjacent to a predominantly residential area include tensions

between accommodating parking needs of residents and those of visitors, workers or

students. Within industrial areas there can be conflicts between accommodating the

parking needs of workers and those of other types of users (e.g. visitors to places of

worship or recreational facilities). There is limited data available that quantifies the

magnitude of these problems although Council regularly receives complaints about such

issues.

8.2. Objectives

Around major transport demand generators that are located outside of activity centres,

Council’s management of parking assets aims to ensure:



Objective 3A: Demand for on-street parking minimises undue negative impacts on

local residents



Objective 3B: On and off-street parking facilities are efficiently utilised with sharing

across multiple user groups.

With regard to Council’s role in providing off-street parking facilities at these locations

(e.g. off-street parking at Council-managed recreational or cultural facilities) Council

aims that:



Objective 3C: On-site parking accompanying new development is provided at a level

that meets the diverse needs of residents.

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

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Council’s planning functions with respect to influencing the location of major transport

demand generators is guided by the following objective:



Objective 3D: Parking problems at out-of-centre locations reduce because major

transport generators are increasingly serviced by improved active and public

transport, and future transport generators are focused in locations with high levels of

multi-modal accessibility.

8.3. Strategies and actions

Council will pursue the following strategies and actions for addressing the identified

issues and achieving the objectives related to parking around out-of-centre transport

demand generators:

Manage

Use demand management

tools including time limits,

parking permits and special

purpose parking zones to

allocate parking to high

priority users and ensure

efficient utilisation

3.1 Identify out-of-centre locations with on-street

parking problems and monitor parking activity.

3.2 Develop Parking Management Plans for areas with

most severe problems that applies parking controls

consistent with the Hierarchy of Priority Users and

Guidance on Use of Parking Demand Management

(See Appendices A and B)

3.3 Use the Hierarchy of Priority Users and Guidance

on Use of Parking Demand Management (See

Appendices A and B) to guide responses to residential

complaints about parking issues.

Enforce areas where parking

controls and permit schemes

are in place to manage

demand.

See Action 1.3.

Provide

Ensure existing and new off

street parking for Council

managed facilities is well

designed, that the level of

supply is not excessive and

that facilities are actively

managed.

See Action 1.4. Ensure monitoring programme

includes Council-owned off-street carparks at out-of

centre locations.

See Action 1.7. Ensure design guidance applicable for

new off-street Council carparks.

Plan

Direct major transport

demand generating land

uses to areas with high

levels of public transport

accessibility.

3.4 Continue to discourage the development of

intensive land uses in locations with poor access to

public transport and outside activity centres, through

the Planning Scheme and development approvals

process.

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 27 of 48

3.5 Encourage development of behaviour change

programs (walking school buses, green travel plans,

etc.) for existing demand generators in out-of-centre

areas.

Require the preparation of a

Green Travel Plans for major

developments to provide a

plan for demand for workers

and visitors will be met in a

sustainable and efficient

way

See action 1.12

Manage demand for car

parking in out-of-centre

demand generators by

encouraging uptake of

active transport

alternatives.

3.6 Improve the quality of walking and cycling

infrastructure in targeted locations in accordance with

the Brimbank Cycling and Walking Strategy 2016.

Advocate

Collaborate with major

transport demand

generating organisations to

encourage appropriate

parking management.

3.7 Advocate for improved parking management at

the growing Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and Education

Precinct.

Advocate to the State

Government to improve

public transport

connections.

See action 1.15

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 28 of 48

9. Parking around railway stations

9.1. Issues

Demand for parking at railway stations is understandably very high across Brimbank,

and Council receives a significant amount of feedback from the community that parking

at stations does not meet demand and is over spilling into surrounding residential

streets, with commuters from outside the area ‘rat-running’ local streets. Available data

on how people access Brimbank’s six railway stations finds that on an average weekday

approximately 9,700 people access stations by car (either by ‘parking and riding’ or

being dropped off), while around 15,000 people access the stations by walking, bus or

cycling (PTV, 2012).

The typical experience at stations around Brimbank and Greater Melbourne is that

parking facilities are exhausted by commuter demand very early in the morning (e.g.

before 7am). This presents an equity issue as station car parks effectively only service

people who can travel early, which excludes, for example, parents travelling after

dropping children at school/childcare and people with later working hours. The car parks

therefore provide very little utility for accessing transit throughout the day, and

moreover, create a significant barrier to active travel by separating the station from

activated surrounding land uses.

The conventional approach in the past has been to progressively upscale car park

facilities to cater to increasing demand. An example of this is the recent establishment

by the Victorian Government of the $150 million ‘Car Parks for Commuters Fund’, and

the announced intention to provide 579 parking spaces at Watergardens Train Station.

The greater opportunity, however, is to repurpose existing car parks for higher-value

land uses such as commercial or residential buildings that provide homes or jobs in

locations with excellent transit accessibility, reducing use of cars.

In the absence of any state government policy to support consistent decision making and

management of station parking sites, Council remains limited in realising opportunities

for developing and repurposing these sites for alternative uses.

In this sense, station parking represents a significant opportunity cost, and is not the

most efficient or cost-effective way to maximise the number of people who have access

to transit. Enabling infill medium or high-density development within walkable

catchments to high-quality transit can provide more equitable transit access to more

people, while contributing to more active and vibrant town centres. Maintaining car

access to stations will remain important, particularly for people living in areas poorly

served by public transport. Improved bus connectivity to stations can help address this

and it is important to note that while park and ride access to stations is important, even

today walking is a more common access mode than driving.

Opportunities for ‘cheap and easy’ provision of parking around stations in Brimbank have

largely been exploited and increasing supply around stations will be expensive.

Objectives

With regard to Council’s broader role in providing active transport infrastructure and

position to advocate to State Government agencies to provide active transport

infrastructure and public transport services, Council aims that:



People increasingly access railway stations by sustainable modes, reducing demands

for parking

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 29 of 48



Land with high levels of public transport accessibility around railway stations is

increasingly used for higher density development rather than car parking.

In residential streets surrounding railway stations, Council’s management of parking

assets aims to ensure:



Demands for on-street parking around railway stations minimise negative impacts on

local residents

9.2. Strategies and actions

Council will pursue the following strategies and actions for addressing the identified

issues and achieving the objectives related to parking around the municipality’s railway

stations. While Council has control of on-street parking in the vicinity of railway stations,

off-street park and ride facilities are generally controlled by State government agencies

(e.g. VicTrack) and Council actions in relation to management of these facilities is limited

to advocacy.

Manage

Manage the negative impact

of commuter parking on

residents.

4.1 Use the Hierarchy of Priority Users and Guidance

on Use of Parking Demand Management (See

Appendices A and B) to guide responses to residential

complaints about parking issues and the application of

on-street controls.

4.2 Review allocation of on-street parking space

within walking catchments of railway stations in

residential areas and apply relevant parking controls

consistent with the Hierarchy of Priority Users and

Guidance on Use of Parking Demand Management

(See Appendices A and B).

Enforce areas where parking

controls and permit schemes

are in place to manage

demand.

See Action 1.3.

Provide

Provide well-designed on

street parking facilities

See Action 1.7.

Plan

Manage demand for car

parking at railway stations

by encouraging active

transport alternatives to

park-and-ride for people

using railway stations.

4.3 Improve the quality of walking and cycling

infrastructure within walking and cycling catchments

of railway stations in accordance with Brimbank

Cycling and Walking Strategy 2016.

Anticipate and facilitate the

introduction of new

4.4 Prepare for autonomous vehicles and other

disruptive technology through periodic reviews to this

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 30 of 48

transport services enabled

by emerging technologies

strategy.

Advocate

Encourage the State

Government to consolidate

park-and-ride car parking at

railway stations

4.5 Encourage State Government to consolidate

existing surface level car parks into centralised multi

level car parks which improve the space efficiency of

car parking and minimise the negative impacts of car

parking on amenity.

4.6 Discourage the development of new park-and-ride

facilities in well serviced major activity centre sites.

Consider supporting park and ride facilities at select

suburban train stations.

4.7 Encourage infill residential development of key

town centre sites close to train stations, including

existing car parking facilities.

Encourage the State

Government to provide

alternatives to park-and-ride

access to railway stations

4.8 Advocate for sufficient bicycle parking facilities to

be provided at railway stations.

4.9 Advocate for improved public transport

connections to railway stations particularly feeder bus

services during peak times.

4.10 Advocate for park and ride facilities to be located

on marginal land further from railway stations and

higher order land uses rather than immediately

adjacent to stations.

Encourage State

Government develop a car

parking strategy to provide

a policy basis to manage

demand

4.11 Advocate to State Government for the for the

preparation of a car parking strategy for metropolitan

railway station car parks to adequately recognise the

cost of providing car parking and to provide an

incentive for users to adopt other transport modes.

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 31 of 48

10. Implementing actions

The implementation of this Strategy’s actions will be programmed over the short (1-2

years), medium (2-5 years), and long term (5+ years). Indicative resourcing costs have

been identified of Low ($0 to $50,000), Medium ($50,000 to $100,000) and High ($100

to $250,000+) for all actions; however, costing will also be informed by whether the

work is undertaken by Council Officers, or externally by a consultant. The cost of

implementing actions that requires budget will be subject to Council budget process.

Lead Council departments have been identified for actions but collaboration between

multiple departments will be necessary for many actions.

All actions will be subject to resources being made available through Council’s annual

capital works and operational budget process. Some actions occur on an ongoing basis

through the life of the Strategy and have been identified as business as usual (BAU).

1.1 Develop and implement Parking Management

Plans for activity centres (with first priority to

Sunshine and St Albans) that apply parking

controls in a way that is consistent with the

Hierarchy of Priority Users and Guidance on Use

of Parking Demand Management Tools (See

Appendices A and B).

S

H

Engineering Services

1.2 Develop a Priced Parking Policy to guide the

implementation of pricing structures, payment

systems, and Council’s use of revenue.

L

M

Engineering Services

1.3 Develop and follow a Parking Enforcement

Plan to guide staffing requirements, enforcement

procedures, use of technology, and selection of

priority locations for enforcement.

S

H

City Compliance

1.5 Investigate options to procure parking

technology systems to aid monitoring,

enforcement and user information for parking.

S

H

Asset & Property

Services / City

Compliance

1.6 Undertake further strategic work to identify

existing parking facilities that should be re

purposed, suitable locations for consolidated

public parking, and the size of new consolidated

facilities.

M

H

Asset & Property

Services

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 32 of 48

1.7 Develop a Parking Facilities Design Guide

detailing how green infrastructure, water sensitive

urban design, respect for heritage, and crime

prevention through environmental design can be

incorporated into the design of parking for

different street types and for off-street parking

facilities.

S

M

Urban Design

1.8 Continue to advocate for State Government to

prepare an Integrated Transport Strategy for

Melbourne’s west, including sufficient detail to

enable integrated transport planning at the

Brimbank local municipal level to guide the

planning of all transport modes to meet the

visions and aspirations of Council and the

community.

S

M

Engineering Services

1.9 Develop a car parking policy to guide

Council’s approach to managing, providing,

planning and advocating for parking. Refer to

Appendix A as the basis for the policy.

S

L

Engineering Services

1.10 Undertake further strategic work to identify

reduced parking rates for new development in

activity centres.

S

M

City Strategy

1.11 Following strategic work, prepare a planning

scheme amendment to incorporate a Parking

Overlay into the Brimbank Planning Scheme, with

a focus on locations with strong access to public

transport and local services.

S

M

City Strategy

1.12 Monitor uptake of electric vehicles and

alternative technology and consider introducing

requirements for electric vehicle charging

infrastructure as part of an amendment to the

Brimbank Planning Scheme for on-site parking

requirements.

M

L

Environment / City

Strategy

1.13 Continue to require the preparation of a

Green Travel Plan by a suitably qualified

professional for development in Brimbank in

accordance with the Brimbank Planning Scheme.

BAU L City Planning

1.14 Encourage the shared use of private off

street car parks between multiple user groups.

BAU L

City Compliance

1.15 Engage with developers during the planning

application process to encourage desired parking

outcomes.

BAU L

City Planning

1.16 Encourage the State Government to provide

high frequency, integrated bus networks to all

areas of Brimbank.

S

L

Engineering Services

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 33 of 48

1.17 Continue to work with key stakeholders and

property owners in the Sydenham Town Centre

and surrounds to address commuter parking and

car parking generally.

M

L

Engineering Services

2.1 Use the Hierarchy of Priority Users and

Guidance on Use of Parking Demand Management

Tools (See Appendices A and B) to guide

application of parking controls and respond to

residential complaints about parking issues.

S

L

Engineering Services

2.2 Develop and implement a Residential Parking

Permit Policy to guide delivery of the Residential

Parking Permit Scheme.

S

L

Engineering Services /

City Compliance

2.3 Undertake further strategic work to identify

appropriate residential parking rates for new

development and applicable overlay locations

(likely areas zoned for higher density

development)

L

M

City Strategy

2.4 Following strategic work, prepare a planning

scheme amendment to incorporate a Parking

Overlay into the Brimbank Planning Scheme, with

a focus on locations with strong access to public

transport and local services.

L

M

City Strategy

2.5 Encourage greater residential densities in

master planned infill and renewal sites within

Brimbank.

BAU L

City Strategy / City

Planning

2.6 Consider the development of multi-unit

developments with car parking layouts which

enable car spaces to be leased or sold separately

to dwellings in large developments through

negotiations with developers.

BAU L

City Planning

2.7 Continue to require the preparation of a

Green Travel Plan by a suitably qualified

professional for all new developments in

accordance with the Brimbank Planning Scheme.

BAU L City Planning

2.8 Improve the quality of walking and cycling

infrastructure in targeted locations in accordance

with the Brimbank Walking and Cycling Strategy.

BAU H

Urban Design

2.10 Develop a Car Share policy to provide

certainty to car share operators and manage the

orderly provision of car share services in

Brimbank

M

L

Engineering Services

2.11 Engage with car share providers to

encourage their entry into Brimbank.

M

L

Engineering Services

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 34 of 48

2.12 Consider the conversion of Council managed

kerbside and off-street spaces to car share

spaces.

M

L

Engineering Services

2.13 Engage with developers through the

planning application process and encourage

provision of car share spaces.

BAU L

City Planning

3.1 Identify out-of-centre locations with on-street

parking problems and monitor parking activity.

M

M

Engineering Services /

City Compliance

3.2 Develop a Parking Management Framework to

inform Council’s approach to areas with most

severe problems that applies parking controls

consistent with the Hierarchy of Priority Users and

Guidance on Use of Parking Demand Management

(See Appendices A and B)

S

H

Engineering Services

3.3 Use the Hierarchy of Priority Users and

Guidance on Use of Parking Demand Management

(See Appendices A and B) to guide responses to

residential complaints about parking issues.

S

L

Engineering Services

3.4 Continue to discourage the development of

intensive land uses in locations with poor access

to public transport and outside activity centres,

through the Planning Scheme and development

approvals process.

BAU L

City Planning / City

Strategy

3.5 Encourage development of behaviour change

programs (walking school buses, green travel

plans, etc.) for existing demand generators in

out-of-centre areas.

BAU L

Environment

3.6 Improve the quality of walking and cycling

infrastructure in targeted locations in accordance

with the Brimbank Walking and Cycling Strategy.

BAU H

Urban Design

3.7 Advocate for improved parking management

at the growing Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and

Education Precinct

M

M

City Compliance

3.8 Review car parking rates in the Sunshine

Health, Wellbeing and Education Precinct.

M

M

City Strategy

4.1 Use the Hierarchy of Priority Users and

Guidance on Use of Parking Demand Management

(See Appendices A and B) to guide responses to

residential complaints about parking issues and

the application of on-street controls.

S

M

Engineering Services

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 35 of 48

4.2 Review allocation of on-street parking space

within walking catchments of railway stations in

residential areas and apply relevant parking

controls consistent with the Hierarchy of Priority

Users and Guidance on Use of Parking Demand

Management (See Appendices A and B).

S

M

Engineering Services

4.3 Improve the quality of walking and cycling

infrastructure within walking and cycling

catchments of railway stations in accordance with

Cycling and Walking Strategy.

BAU H

Urban Design

4.4 Prepare for autonomous vehicles and other

disruptive technology to inform future review of

this Strategy.

L

L

Environment

4.5 Encourage State Government to consolidate

existing surface level car parks into centralised

multi-level car parks which improve the space

efficiency of car parking and minimise the

negative impacts of car parking on amenity.

BAU L

City Strategy /

Engineering Services

4.6 Encourage the development of new park-and

ride facilities in suburban train stations outside of

activity centres.

BAU L

City Strategy /

Engineering Services

4.7 Encourage infill residential development of

key town centre sites close to train stations,

including existing car parking facilities.

BAU L

City Strategy / City

Planning

4.8 Advocate for sufficient bicycle parking at

railway stations.

BAU L

Urban Design

4.9 Advocate for improved public transport

connections to railway stations particularly feeder

bus services during peak times.

S

L

Engineering Services

4.10 Advocate for park and ride facilities to be

located on marginal land further from railway

stations and higher order land uses rather than

immediately adjacent to stations.

S

L

City Strategy /

Engineering Services

4.11 Advocate to State Government for the

preparation of a car parking strategy for

metropolitan railway station carparks to

adequately recognise the cost of providing car

parking and to provide an incentive for users to

adopt other transport modes.

S

L

Engineering Services

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 36 of 48

The framework for the Strategy actions is organised around two dimensions:

1. The key land-use contexts within which car parking issues are relevant in Brimbank

(activity centres, residential areas, out-of-centre transport demand generators and

railway stations)

2. The key parking functions with which Brimbank City Council is involved (parking

management, provision, planning and advocacy).

Within this Strategy document, the actions are organised by the four land-use contexts,

reflecting the specific types of actions required to address the distinct parking challenges

and objectives for each context.

Across all these contexts there is a common overall Council approach to managing,

providing, planning and advocating for parking that is consistent with the principles

outlined above. This overall approach across the four functions is detailed in Table .

Council will allocate and manage its on- and off-street carparks to

accommodate the needs of users with the most important need for parking.

Council will use its

to guide the allocation and

management of parking spaces to accommodate different user groups in

various contexts across Brimbank (see Appendix B).

Council will actively use a full range of tools to manage parking demand

including time restrictions, reserved parking spaces, priced parking and permit

systems. Council will use its

to guide the appropriate application of tools to various

contexts across Brimbank (see Appendix C).

Council will regularly monitor parking activity at its facilities and will change its

management regime in response to changing demand and changing needs.

Council will actively enforce its parking demand management system in a fair

and transparent manner.

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Council will make decisions on the level of on- and off-street public parking

provided at various locations with reference to the Parking Strategy’s six

principles. In making decisions on how much parking to provide, Council will

consider the potential for more rigorous demand management to reduce the

need for increased supply, the trade-offs between providing ample parking to

enable access and achieving sustainable transport mode shift, quality urban

places and value for money for Council investment.

Council will develop on- and off-street parking facilities that are well-designed

to support quality urban places and environmental sustainability and that

represent value for money for Council.

Council will encourage shared use of public parking facilities to maximise use

of facilities that may ultimately result in less overall parking congestion.

Council will integrate appropriate technologies with its parking facilities to

support improved parking management and information for users.

Council will make decisions about on-site car parking rates accompanying

property development with reference to the Parking Strategy’s six principles.

Council recognises that while on-site parking rates are intended to manage

increased parking demands accompanying development, they can have

unintentional negative impact on goals for mode shift to sustainable transport,

high-quality urban places and the viability and cost of property development.

Council will consider how its broader suite of transport and land-use policies

impact on levels of car use and accompanying demand for parking.

Council will collaborate with interested organisations to influence parking

outcomes, particularly related to publicly available parking on private or State

government land (e.g. around shopping centres, hospitals universities, railway

stations).

Draft Brimbank Parking Strategy

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This guidance provides supplementary information for the strategies identified for

Council management of public parking spaces as detailed in Sections 6 - 0. It details the

Hierarchy of users for public parking spaces referenced under several actions for

managing parking.

This hierarchy is designed to guide Council decision-making on allocation of parking

space and accompanying application of relevant management tools, assuming Council

decisions have confirmed that the subject on- or off-street space should be dedicated to

parking functions. Higher order decisions on whether particular areas of street kerbside

space or public land should be allocated to parking functions rather than other transport

or land-use functions involve a wider range of considerations. For on-street kerbside

space allocation and the priority of parking relative to other uses, considerations should

include:



Property access



Road safety



Street function and relative priority of movement or place functions



Street frontage and surrounding land use



Street function within multi-modal networks (e.g. is the street a priority cycling or

bus route?).

Public parking space can be a scarce and valuable commodity, particularly in areas of

high parking demand such as around activity centres or railway stations. Council

management of its public parking assets will seek to prioritise the allocation of this space

to the users with the most important needs in a way that is consistent with the principles

and objectives of this Parking Strategy.

Table identifies key user groups or parking functions relevant to public parking spaces in

Brimbank. It also identifies typical parking management approaches for accommodating

each of these user groups.

Reserved spaces for taxis, ride-share, private vehicle drop-off and pick-up

of passengers immediately adjacent to key transport demand generators

(e.g. around schools, at the entrance to shopping centres)

Reserved loading zones for delivery of goods

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Reserved spaces for disability permit holders located immediately adjacent

to key transport demand generators

Reserved spaces for car share vehicles

Timed or priced parking for short-stay (less than 1 hour) parking for

customers or visitors

Timed or priced parking for short-stay (1-4 hours) parking for customers or

visitors

Unrestricted parking for customers or visitors

Unrestricted or permitted parking for long-term local employee use

Unrestricted or permitted parking for long-term local resident use

Unrestricted or permitted parking for long-term park and ride use

Council decisions on the relative priority of accommodating the needs of these various

user groups and accompanying spatial application of relevant management tools will be

based on the Hierarchy of priority users as detailed in Table .

The relative priority of various groups depends on the land-use context and Table

provides guidance on a distinct hierarchy for the four key land-use contexts that

organise the Parking Strategy. For example, the highest priority should be given to

accommodating the needs of residents in residential contexts, while in activity centres

other users should be prioritised first in allocating spaces.

In practice, Council will use this hierarchy by first considering the needs of the user

group/ function at the top of the list and allocating an appropriate level of space at an

appropriate location to meet those needs. Spaces will then be progressively allocated to

other users in the order outlined for the relevant context. For example, on an activity

centre street, decision-making on allocation of space available for parking functions will

consider in the following order working progressively through the prioritised list of user

groups:

1. Appropriate locations and number of spaces needed for safe and convenient pick-up

and drop off space for taxis, rideshare and other passenger pick-up drop-offs

2. Appropriate locations and number of spaces for loading zones

3. Appropriate locations and number of spaces reserved for disability permit holders

4. Allocate remaining spaces to short term customer and visitor parking

5. Allocate remaining spaces to medium-stay parking

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6. Allocate remaining spaces to car share spaces

7. Allocate remaining spaces to resident parking.

This means that not every user group will necessarily be deliberately accommodated for

at every location or that higher priority user groups are allocated the most spaces within

a parking precinct, only that the relevant needs of higher priority users are considered

first before allocating spaces to lower priority users. For example, at Council managed

on-street parking around railway stations, commuter 'park and ride' parking may be the

predominant use. Nevertheless, the needs of other users should be considered first in

allocating and managing parking spaces at these locations, with spaces remaining after

other uses have been appropriately accommodated provided for commuter parking.

Draft Brimbank Parking Strategy

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On-street

Off-street

On-street

On and off-street

On-street*

Drop-off/ pick-up

Disability permit holders Resident parking

Drop-off/ pick-up

Drop-off/ pick-up

Delivery and service

vehicle loading

Drop-off/ pick-up

Disability permit

holders

Disability permit holders

Disability permit

holders

Disability permit

holders

Delivery and service

vehicle loading

Car share

Car share

Car share

Short-stay customer

and visitor parking

Car share

Short-stay customer

and visitor parking

Delivery and service vehicle

loading

Delivery and service

vehicle loading

Medium-stay customer

and visitor parking

Short-stay customer

parking

Medium-stay customer

and visitor parking

Resident parking

Resident parking

Car share

Medium-stay customer

parking

Long-stay customer

and visitor parking

Short-stay customer and visitor

parking

Short-stay customer

and visitor parking

Resident parking

Employee parking

Drop-off/ pick-up

Employee parking

Medium-stay customer

and visitor parking

Long-stay customer

and visitor parking

Long-stay customer and

visitor parking

Delivery and service

vehicle loading

Medium-stay customer and visitor

parking

Long-stay customer

and visitor parking

Employee parking

Resident parking

Employee parking

Long-stay customer and visitor

parking

Employee parking

Commuter parking

Commuter parking

Commuter parking

Commuter parking

Commuter parking

*Note that off-street parking around railway stations (e.g. facilities designed for park and ride users) are generally not within the jurisdiction of Council and the hierarchy of

priority users for this context focuses on on-street parking in areas within the walkable catchment of railway stations that are within the control of Council. Priority users for off

street facilities may be different.

Draft Brimbank Parking Strategy

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This guidance details Council’s approach to the use of parking demand management

controls for Council-managed on- and off-street public car parking facilities. The purpose

of this guidance is to present a transparent decision-making framework that Council will

use when considering the introduction of parking controls or changes to parking controls.

Parking controls include time restrictions, pricing and special purpose parking zones that

can be used to manage parking demand.

Council will apply parking controls in response to evidence on levels of parking demand

at a street or precinct-scale. Council will use occupancy-based triggers to guide

introduction or change of parking controls. Evidence on parking occupancy is gathered

through surveying parking activity and counting the number of occupied parking spaces

as a percentage of total available parking spaces.

Table details the range of parking controls used by Brimbank City Council to manage

demand for its on- and off-street parking facilities. These controls are generally

implemented with signage for applicable spaces and accompanying enforcement. Parking

permit schemes operate in combination with other controls.

Unrestricted

parking

Public parking provided with no time

or pricing restrictions or special

purpose parking zones.

Areas where parking demands are low

and conflict between users is low (e.g.

on-street parking in a quiet residential

area)

Time limits

Public parking provided subject to a

range of time restrictions (5

minutes to 4 hours) with

accompanying enforcement.

Areas where short-stay parking should

be prioritised and where there is

conflict between long- and short-stay

parking demands (e.g. activity

centres)

Priced parking

Public parking provided subject to

payment of a range of time-based

fees with accompanying

enforcement. May be combined with

time restrictions.

Areas with high demand for short

medium stay parking where time

limits are not ensuring sufficient

parking turnover or availability (e.g.

activity centres).

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Special purpose

parking zones

Parking spaces reserved for

particular user groups (e.g. loading

zones, disability permit spaces, car

share spaces, resident only

parking).

Areas with moderate-high demand for

parking and where special user groups

needs should be prioritised.

Parking permit

schemes

Permit scheme allowing exemptions

from parking controls for permit

holders (e.g. resident exemptions

from time limits). Will be combined

with time limits, pricing or special

purpose zones.

Areas with moderate-high demand for

parking and where special user groups

needs should be prioritised.

Table outlines guidance on the sequence of controls that should be implemented in

response to increasing parking demands across four land-use contexts. Council decisions

to shift to a higher level of controls will be guided by occupancy-based intervention

triggers (see Table ).

Progressively

implement

controls in

response to

higher demand

No restrictions

Special purpose

parking zones

Longer time limits

(2 -4 hours)

Shorter time limits

(15 mins – 2

hours)

Priced parking

(options for

progressively

higher prices to

manage demand)

No restrictions

Time limits (1 –

4 hours, in

combination with

residential

parking permit

schemes)

Special purpose

parking zones

(residents only)

No restrictions

Special purpose

parking zones

Time limits (1 –

4 hours, may be

in combination

with parking

permit schemes)

No restrictions

Special purpose

parking zones

Time limits (1 –

4 hours, may be

in combination

with parking

permit schemes)

Priced parking

(options for

progressively

higher prices to

manage

demand)

The hierarchy suggests that progressive introduction of progressively shorter time limits

and use of special purpose zones should generally be used ahead of introduction of

priced parking. Priced parking in Brimbank is generally only recommended for activity

centre contexts where demand for parking is high and where short-stay parking users

are a high priority. Priced parking may also be appropriate at park and ride facilities at

Brimbank Parking Strategy 2019 - 2029

Page 47 of 48

railway stations to incentivise use of other access modes and cover costs of providing

parking facilities.

Table identifies occupancy-based triggers that Council will use to guide decision-making

on introducing or changing parking controls or levels of enforcement. The occupancy

based triggers aim for efficient utilisation of parking resources and a level of use that

ensures ongoing availability of some parking spaces (e.g. at 85% occupancy, one in

seven spaces will be available).

<50%

Consider re-allocation of parking spaces for other uses

Consider reducing controls

50 – 70%

Consider re-allocation of parking spaces for other uses

No change to controls

70 – 85%

Consider moderate increases to controls

Consider increasing enforcement of controls

Monitor occupancy

>85%

Increase controls

Consider increasing enforcement of controls

Monitor occupancy

*Parking occupancy should be measured as ‘4-hour peak period occupancy’ (i.e. the average occupancy during

the four hours of highest occupancy during a continuous survey period such as over a 12-hour day). Parking

occupancy should be measured at a precinct- or street-scale. At minimum, occupancy should be measured

across an area of at least 100m of kerbside parking space.

Time limits and priced parking will not be changed on a space-by-space basis but

implemented as part of a precinct-wide parking management plan or review. In general,

single time limits will be implemented across at least 50m of street length for on-street

parking. Special purpose parking zones can be introduced for single spaces but

distribution of such zones will be planned at a precinct-scale.

Effective enforcement is a necessary complement for effective parking controls and the

effectiveness of enforcement of existing controls will be considered as part of making

decisions ahead of introducing increased controls. This Strategy highlights the need for a

Parking Enforcement Plan for ensuring appropriate levels and well-targeted enforcement

activities.