UPDATE: The Merri-bek Council is facing mounting concerns as its parking refund scheme sees a dismal response. Less than 2% of recipients of potentially incorrectly issued parking fines have sought compensation since the scheme launched on July 1, 2023. This alarming trend could leave many motorists unaware of their rights to refunds.
As of now, only 3,428 applications have been submitted, resulting in just $106,000 in payments approved for affected drivers. This is a mere fraction of the council’s estimate, which suggests that up to 250,000 fines may have been wrongly issued over the past 12 years. The council’s error involved charging drivers 0.5 penalty units instead of the correct 0.2 penalty units for minor parking offences in “green sign zones.”
When the council revealed this mistake in June, it projected the total cost for refunds could reach between $10.7 million and $14.7 million. Motorists have been overcharged by amounts ranging from $43 to $59 for each infraction, depending on when the fine was issued.
Despite the urgency of the situation, only 2,491 applications have been finalized within the first three weeks, with 87%—or 2,188 applications—approved for refunds. The remaining applications were denied due to ineligibility or are still pending processing.
Cathy Henderson, the council’s CEO, stated, “We designed the scheme to be quick and easy to use. We have promoted it through our communications channels and the media to ensure that as many affected motorists as possible are aware of this scheme.”
However, the state government will not intervene. Nick Staikos, the Minister for Local Government, indicated that the responsibility for addressing the issue lies solely with the Merri-bek Council. “We expect Merri-bek Council to act in good faith and compensate affected Victorians as needed,” a government spokesperson confirmed.
The lack of engagement from the public raises questions about awareness and accessibility. Motorists who believe they were wrongly fined are urged to apply for a partial refund online. Payments are expected to be processed within 21 days after validation.
For those with concerns about administrative practices, the Victorian Ombudsman remains a resource for filing complaints against local councils.
As the situation develops, the Merri-bek Council continues to monitor applications and push for greater awareness of this refund opportunity. Affected motorists must act swiftly to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve.
