Sometimes parking on both sides of my road blocks two-way traffic. Can Council prohibit parking on one side?
Council does not generally restrict parking outside the scope of the Road Rules, as on-street parking is considered a valuable resource for the local community.
Most local roads within Maroondah City Council and across Melbourne are in line with State Government development guidelines. Their width allows for parking on both sides and provides 3m of clear roadway for through vehicles, which is enough for 1 car to drive through. See example below.
Sparse parking along most local streets usually permits two-way traffic flow, but more on-street parking can reduce access to one ‘through’ vehicle only. Drivers in these circumstances are expected to drive according to the road conditions, and will sometimes need to yield to oncoming vehicle. See the image below.
Can I park my vehicle on the nature strip?
The Victorian Road Rules state that vehicles cannot park on nature strips. Council therefore can’t give specific permission for parking on a nature strip, unless there are specially built areas such as indented bays.
Vehicles parked on nature strips can:
- damage Council infrastructure (i.e. kerb and channel, subsurface drainage, vegetation, drainage pit lids etc)
- obstruct sight distance near private driveways and intersections
- obstruct the footpath or pedestrian traffic.
Note that Victoria Police may administer a parking infringement penalty for parking on the nature strip.
What are the regulations for heavy or long vehicles parking on the road?
According to the road rules, heavy or long vehicles cannot be parked on a road for longer than 1 hour unless:
- there is a specific traffic control device that permits the driver of a heavy or longer vehicle to park for longer than 1 hour, or
- the driver is engaged in dropping off or picking up goods.
Under the Road Rule definitions, heavy vehicles have a gross vehicle mass of 4.5 tonnes or more and long vehicles are 7.5 metres or longer.
Can Council install an indented bay near my nature strip or indented bays in my street?
Council will only allow the construction of additional on-street parking (including indented parking bays) in a street if there is significant support demonstrated by residents, usually by letters or a petition. For Council to proceed with a parking scheme there must be a clear majority of support from the impacted property owners.
Costs for the parking works would be recovered from the abutting property owners by Council through a Special Rates and Charges Scheme under the provisions of the Local Government Act.
Generally, Council does not support the installation of isolated indented parking bays for specific properties. Council would generally only consider additional on-street parking works as part of a street-wide project or wider parking scheme.
Any extra parking that is created under a Special Rates and Charges Scheme will be available for public use and cannot be allocated only to abutting property owners.
I have a large vehicle, trailer, boat, or caravan. Can Council restrict parking near my driveway so I can get my vehicle out?
Unfortunately it is not practical for Council to set up parking controls that restrict parking within a typical residential street for the benefit of private oversized vehicle access.
We would expect you to make your own arrangements to ensure that the road space you need is free. These include:
- Park your own car in the critical space.
- Let your neighbours know that you will need access to that part of your street.
- Make changes to your crossover or driveway to improve access.
Can Council prohibit parking near or opposite my driveway?
There are no Road Rules that prohibit parking near a driveway or on the opposite side of the road, so Council does not prohibit parking for access to private driveways.
If vehicles parked near your driveway make access difficult, we suggested that you:
- explain your situation to your neighbour and ask them to leave some space next to or opposite your driveway
- consider widening your driveway, which would improve access to your property.
Can Council install parking linemarking, such as hockey stick markings, near my driveway?
Council generally does not install hockey stick or other parking guidance linemarking.
- The linemarking is not enforceable under the Road Rules.
- The linemarking may alter the alignment of the road by guiding vehicles closer to the centre of the road.
- There is considerable cost associated with maintenance and officer time to develop these works, which would be compounded if the practice was to become widely adopted throughout the municipality.
Council only installs guidance linemarking such as hockey sticks in exceptional circumstances, such as:
- in commercial precincts with wider roads that experience significant parking turnover
- in industrial areas where older roads have been built to previous guidelines, and linemarking is needed to ensure access for larger vehicles.
Vehicles are parked across or overhanging my driveway. What can I do?
Under the Road Rules, vehicles cannot be parked so that they block any part of a driveway, including the splay. See below.
If a vehicle is parked illegally near your driveway, call Council’s Local Laws team on 1300 88 22 33. A parking enforcement officer may be dispatched to undertake a spot inspection of the area.
Can I park across or in my own driveway?
Under the road rules, vehicles cannot be parked on or across the driveway entrance, even if it is your vehicle and your property.
Can Council prohibit parking along the top of a T-intersection?
The Victorian Road Rules do not specifically prohibit parking along the continuous side of a T-intersection.
Parking is a valuable community resource, and Council generally does not prohibit parking outside the scope of the Road Rules.