Melbourne Zoo's bargain $2-a-day parking deal is under threat, as a new Royal Park master plan proposes scrapping the cap to encourage more visitors to use public transport.
The packed car park at Melbourne Zoo has families enjoying the low-cost parking. One mother said: "It's the most convenient part about coming to the zoo. If you've got a zoo membership, the zoo membership is free and you just pay $2 for the whole day."
Council's push for public transport
The council has hinted at removing the parking fee cap under the new master plan, part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on private vehicles and improve public transport over the next 20 years.
One visitor noted: "It's basically discouraging locals coming here as well. I mean, this is the cheapest car park I've ever seen so far and I think it's a really good motivation for me to come to the zoo more often and we can support the animals in the zoo."
Families concerned
Parents worry that higher parking costs would make visits harder. Another parent said: "Coming when you've got kids on public transport is probably not as easy as driving your car with all the pram and the food. So that's kind of, you know, might make it harder for families." One visitor added: "I wouldn't come with the kids, no."
Political criticism
Opposition MP David Southwick criticised the proposal, saying "hiking car parking prices only turns more people away and it just should not be happening in a cost of living crisis."
One visitor echoed: "I'd come, but obviously with like petrol going up as well, like it's a lot of money coming out if it goes up." Locals seem to favour keeping the current arrangement, with one saying: "I think leave it as it is."
