With more events and more people visiting East Melbourne than ever before, and changes to the way people use on-street parking, we’re adjusting parking to help keep your community moving.
Council endorsed the Parking and Kerbside Management Plan, which commits to regular reviews of the municipality’s kerbside parking through proactive community engagement and data-driven decision making. As part of this, the team is working one neighbourhood at a time, engaging the community, and reviewing and revising parking conditions to make sure this limited resource is working efficiently.
We spoke to the community in 2024, worked with parking management experts, investigated the data and studied how people are using on-street parking spaces in East Melbourne. This helped us to develop proposed parking changes that will deliver simpler and more available parking. To learn more about what the East Melbourne community told us in 2024, visit our consultation summary page.
We want to update and simplify parking to better address the needs bought to us by the community, pick up and drop off, spaces for visitors, carers and services and more consistent restrictions. We want to know your thoughts on the proposed changes to make sure we have the balance right.
What we heard
Event parking was the major theme of feedback across East Melbourne. Community told us that, before we review and update weekday parking restrictions, we need to consider possible next steps for event day parking, as this is the main cause of parking pressures experienced in East Melbourne.
“The only time when parking is a problem is when there is football/events at the MCG. People who park illegally are usually happy to pay the fine.”
Initial research
In response to this feedback, we have completed early research to understand how other local councils and cities reduce the impact of event day parking – and an Event Parking Overlay is commonly used. For example, City of Moonee Valley use an Event Parking Overlay when significant events are held at the Melbourne Showgrounds or Flemington Racecourse.
An Event Parking Overlay is a defined area that becomes No Parking (Permit excepted) on event days. This means that only permit holders can park on street. Permit holders for any event overlay in East Melbourne would need to be defined at a future stage. An event overlay will assist in making parking simpler and more available for all residents, businesses and visitors to East Melbourne when needed.
Proposed action
Following this period of engagement about the possible parking changes in East Melbourne, if the community was supportive of further investigations being conducted, we would:
You can explore the other proposed changes by selecting the interactive spots on the image, or read the text only description of the proposed changes below.
What we heard
We received a mix of feedback that there was not enough or too much residential exempt parking and that the parking permit system needs to be updated.
Proposed change
We will retain the current resident permit exemptions and permit zone allocation. Some locations may be updated to better reflect the needs of permit holders and simplification of streets. A review of the current parking permit policy will take place under the Parking and Kerbside Management Plan.
What we heard
Parking controls end at inconsistent times across East Melbourne, which means visitors and residents struggle to find a park during the evening and weekends.
Proposed change
Parking will be updated to 7am-10pm Monday to Sunday across East Melbourne, with these exceptions:
What we heard
Short term parking (30min, 1P and 2P) does not provide enough time for people parking in East Melbourne outside of event days.
Proposed change
Broadly, parking controls will not be adjusted in this round of changes. We will first wait to understand any next steps regarding event day parking.
In the meantime, long stay controls (3P, 4P and P) will be updated to be more consistent and P Meter parking will be reduced.
What we heard
Loading Zones are essential for both businesses and residents, but signs are inconsistent and can be confusing. Key loading activities happen Monday-Friday during the day.
Proposed change
We will simplify all Loading Zone times to 30 minutes from 7am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. After 4pm on weekdays and all day on weekends, Loading Zones will be general parking for all users increasing parking availability at these times.
East Melbourne's proximity to the city centre and more traffic on evenings and weekends means we need to manage increased demand for parking.
Fees are an important tool for managing parking demand. Fees set at the right price can maximise occupancy while ensuring availability for people who need access.
In response to community feedback about limited parking availability in key locations, the map below shows where paid parking changes are proposed.
You can also download a PDF of the map: Proposed paid parking changes map (PDF 12,337 KB)
What we heard
There is increased traffic and demand for parking in areas where some meters exist including Victoria Parade, Albert Street and around the hospitals. Existing parking controls in very residential areas generally work well outside of events so paid parking is not currently needed in these locations.
Proposed change
To reflect increased demand on parking in key locations, meters will be installed consistently along Victoria Parade, Albert Street and on three blocks in the hospital precinct.
In addition to the above proposed changes, some changes to parking in East Melbourne will also be progressively rolled out across the entire municipality:
The introduction of ‘15 minutes free parking’ when you log your parking session with the EasyPark app for any paid parking bay.
This has been introduced in the CBD, Carlton, Southbank and West Melbourne.
This supports a range of parking needs including pick-up and delivery, quickly stopping at a shop or business, running errands or picking up a friend.
In paid parking areas where 15 minute free is available short bays (P10 and 1/4P) will be reduced. We will install some “No Parking” signs you see here. This means you can stop for a maximum of two minutes to quickly drop-off or pick-up passengers or goods. This makes spaces more available for quick stops and ensures turnover remains high.
In unpaid parking areas short stay bays of 1/4P will be maintained where there is a land use need (e.g. business, schools and childcare).
Accessible Bays will be installed at key locations including near health services, public facilities and transport.
Accessible bays will be installed in line with accessibility standards where possible on street and line marked blue for increased visibility. This means accessible bays will be longer and wider than standard bays.
Disability parking permit holders can also park for double the time limit shown on any general ‘green sign’ parking space (up to four hours in a ‘2P Meter’ space).
Based on feedback from community we are investigating the Albert Street clearway and opportunities for changes with the support of Department of Transport and Planning.
While this happens, we will display additional signage in this location to highlight the tow away penalty in this clearway.
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.
We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.
