For the City of Greater Bendigo to eliminate fees for Disabled Parking Permit holders
The issue
We the undersigned formally request the City of Greater Bendigo Council to remove all parking fees for Category 1 Australian Disabled Parking Permit holders across all council-managed parking areas.
My name is Kat Mansbridge, facilitator of R.A.I.S.E. Your Voice Bendigo, a self-advocacy group for people with disability funded through R.I.A.C. and supported by Sportzrulz Inc. Our members have regularly discussed the challenges of finding accessible parking and using parking meters and payment apps in Bendigo.
Background
Category 1 ADP permit holders can currently park free in designated accessible bays, but there are only around 100 such spaces available for approximately 5,700 permit holders. When these bays are full, people often have no practical alternative.
Paid parking can create additional barriers. Parking meters and apps are not always accessible, and parking costs can place an added financial burden on people with disability. These challenges can discourage participation in everyday activities within the CBD.
Other regional cities, including Ballarat, and many metropolitan municipalities allow Category 1 ADP permit holders to park free in metered bays, reducing demand on designated accessible spaces and improving access without major infrastructure changes.
Benefits
- Improves access to shops, services and community facilities
- Reduces pressure on limited accessible parking bays
- Supports independence and community participation
- Provides financial relief for people with disability
This is about equity, not convenience. Removing parking fees for ADP permit holders would be a simple, low-cost way to improve accessibility and align with Council’s inclusion commitments demonstrating leadership in this space. We urge Council to adopt this change and make Greater Bendigo a more accessible and inclusive city for everyone.
Current Status
This proposal has been requested formally requested at the council meeting on 15th June 2026. I was informed that “Parking Services has scheduled a review of the Parking Restriction Policy later in 2026. This review will provide the appropriate opportunity for Council to consider how paid parking is managed for accessible parking permit holders.” This petition seeks to demonstrate broad community support for this request.
How this works
To sign this petition, you will need an email address, and you may be asked to validate it. You are under no obligation to sign any further petitions. Please do not donate any money to this cause. A paper version of this survey will be made available in a public space shortly.
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The issue
We the undersigned formally request the City of Greater Bendigo Council to remove all parking fees for Category 1 Australian Disabled Parking Permit holders across all council-managed parking areas.
My name is Kat Mansbridge, facilitator of R.A.I.S.E. Your Voice Bendigo, a self-advocacy group for people with disability funded through R.I.A.C. and supported by Sportzrulz Inc. Our members have regularly discussed the challenges of finding accessible parking and using parking meters and payment apps in Bendigo.
Background
Category 1 ADP permit holders can currently park free in designated accessible bays, but there are only around 100 such spaces available for approximately 5,700 permit holders. When these bays are full, people often have no practical alternative.
Paid parking can create additional barriers. Parking meters and apps are not always accessible, and parking costs can place an added financial burden on people with disability. These challenges can discourage participation in everyday activities within the CBD.
Other regional cities, including Ballarat, and many metropolitan municipalities allow Category 1 ADP permit holders to park free in metered bays, reducing demand on designated accessible spaces and improving access without major infrastructure changes.
Benefits
- Improves access to shops, services and community facilities
- Reduces pressure on limited accessible parking bays
- Supports independence and community participation
- Provides financial relief for people with disability
This is about equity, not convenience. Removing parking fees for ADP permit holders would be a simple, low-cost way to improve accessibility and align with Council’s inclusion commitments demonstrating leadership in this space. We urge Council to adopt this change and make Greater Bendigo a more accessible and inclusive city for everyone.
Current Status
This proposal has been requested formally requested at the council meeting on 15th June 2026. I was informed that “Parking Services has scheduled a review of the Parking Restriction Policy later in 2026. This review will provide the appropriate opportunity for Council to consider how paid parking is managed for accessible parking permit holders.” This petition seeks to demonstrate broad community support for this request.
How this works
To sign this petition, you will need an email address, and you may be asked to validate it. You are under no obligation to sign any further petitions. Please do not donate any money to this cause. A paper version of this survey will be made available in a public space shortly.
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Petition created on 9 August 2026