General News
29 November, 2025
Council urged to find parking fix
A group of volunteers who help run activities with local aged care residents has appealed to Ararat Rural City Council to help them find a solution to a growing parking crisis. Members of the East Grampians Health Service Residents Support Group have recently been hit with parking fines in Lowe Street as council cracks down on people who park illegally or who overstay time limits.
The volunteers, some of whom have mobility issues, say the lack of parking near Garden View Court in particular, is hampering their ability to help with the care and activities they help facilitate with residents at the aged care facility.
Volunteers had previously parked on the verge along Lowe Street, but Council has recently become proactive issuing fines for illegal parking.
One volunteer who holds a disability parking permit told the Advocate of her dismay to receive a $204 fine for illegally parking due to there being no disabled parking spaces available near Garden View Court.
“My mobility limitations make walking long distances unsafe and I acted out of necessity, not disregard for parking rules,” she said.
Council says it recently replaced the old, fading No Standing signs in Lowe Street to give drivers wanting to park in front of the hostel clear visibility of the parking restrictions.
Hostel staff, visitors and the public not adhering to this parking restriction are at risk of receiving a fine council warned this week.
While the Lowe Street aged care facility has an adjoining carpark, there is no parking immediately available near Garden View Court.
The volunteers have appealed to councillors to come out to Garden View Court and see the problem first hand, and discuss ways where new parking bays could be made available.
Volunteer Marion McAdie has appealed to council to help find a solution.
“They have to, I can’t see any other way around it,” she said.
Another volunteer said the speed limit in Lowe Street should be changed due to the amount of traffic and older residents crossing the street.
“We’re all talking about parking but I also feel that section of road out there should be reduced to 40. There are no signs saying elderly,” she said.
Council says its Community Safety Team has provided extensive notice to drivers illegally parking in Lowe Street, including reminder letters on vehicles and safety alerts to Garden View Court management.
CEO, Dr Tim Harrison, said there were kerbside parallel parking spots in the vicinity for visitors to use and staff were encouraged to use staff parking.
“Lowe Street is a busy part of town with a curved alignment and a lot of people coming and going, so we need everyone to use common sense and follow the signs,” Dr Harrison said. “Council understands parking can be tight for visitors to Garden View Court and nearby homes, which is why parallel parking along the kerb is allowed on Queen Street, but parking in signed no-standing areas, blocking visibility, or performing unsafe U-turns puts other road users at risk.
“We are asking people to do the right thing, keep an eye on the signage, and treat our Community Safety Team with respect as they go about their work,” he said.
Dr Harrison told the Advocate on Thursday he and Mayor Bob Sanders would be happy to meet the volunteers on site next week to discuss the parting issues and potential solutions.
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