City considers parking restrictions for MCG attendees

The City of Melbourne is considering introducing parking restrictions aimed at curbing illegal parking by MCG visitors in East Melbourne.

The proposed event parking overlay would restrict on-street parking to permit holders only, in an effort to simplify parking and increase availability for residents and businesses.

This proposal is part of an ongoing parking review, which has highlighted key concerns raised by local residents. The review found that enforcement is challenging and parking availability is significantly impacted, particularly during MCG events.

Greg Bisinella, president of the East Melbourne Group, said that currently, some people attending football matches were willing to risk a fine due to the suburb’s close proximity to the MCG.

He believes there is a need to improve the permit system, including digitisation and an increase in the number of permits allocated per property.

Before implementing the event overlay, the City of Melbourne is undertaking further investigation to assess its viability.

This includes consultation with stakeholders, residents, businesses and visitors to better understand and balance the diverse needs of these groups.

Once this process is complete, the East Melbourne Annual Review will be released, outlining the proposed changes.

Additionally, the City of Melbourne will roll out several new parking updates this year following an earlier review.

Parking will be updated to 7am–10pm, Monday to Sunday, across East Melbourne – except for areas adjacent to Fitzroy Gardens, which will operate from 7am–7pm, Monday to Sunday. Parking that currently extends beyond 10pm will be retained.

Long-stay parking controls, such as three- and four-hour zones, will also be made more consistent, and the number of P Meter spaces will be reduced. •