Parking, illegal building fines rise in line with 2019/20 Greater Bendigo budget

The increased penalty for those who fail to pay for a parking ticket, or overstay the allotted time, was part of the city's budget for the 2019-20 financial year.

Fines for a range of illegal building works also rose on July 1.

Councillors adopted the budget at the June council meeting, with a number of amendments.

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They included $75,000 for the Huntly Early Learning Centre, and $90,000 of operational efficiencies.

The city has budgeted for $42.9 million of capital works this financial year.

Council has committed $13 million to works on the sealed and unsealed road network, and $912,000 to pathways.

A total of $1.4 million has been budgeted for drainage works and $1.2 million to public furniture and fittings.

Rehabilitation works at landfill sites at Eaglehawk, While Hills and Wolstencroft are expected to cost $3.4 million.

Council expects to make a $5.1 million dent in its debt, reducing the total sum to $46 million by the end of this financial year.

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Mayor Margaret O'Rourke said when the budget was proposed increasing parking fines to half a penalty unit would bring the city in line with many other comparable regional shires.

Penalty units are valued at $165.22 this financial year, as determined by the Department of Treasury and Finance.

"We hope the new increase could help to change the behaviour of drivers who do not abide by parking rules. We know that around a third are repeat offenders," Cr O'Rourke said.

"If drivers follow the parking rules, they won't get a fine and it will free up more parking spaces for everyone else."

Though parking penalties increased, the cost of parking was to remain the same.

Parking fines increased by $5 in the 2018-19 financial year, and $5 the year prior. They were steady in the 2016-17 budget, at $45.

The city said fees for illegal building works had to be higher than the actual building permits, as they were incentives for people to go through the proper processes.

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