Our shopping strips are the heart of Glen Eira. They’re where we meet friends, shop local, grab a coffee, or enjoy a night out. These places are vibrant, welcoming, and essential to our quality of life — and we know how much our community values them.

That’s why we’re inviting the community to have your say on how we manage parking in three of our busiest areas: Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh.

 A fairer, more balanced system

Glen Eira’s population is expected to grow by nearly 30,000 people by 2036. That means more people, more homes — and more cars.

In 2023, the Our Priorities, Our Future Community Priorities Panel recommended that Council review how parking is managed to support long-term financial sustainability and a better approach to parking for the future. 

Through previous engagements, we’ve also heard loud and clear that green space is a top priority. People want more trees, places to relax, space to exercise, and areas to connect outdoors — not more land used for car parking.

At the same time, we know that cars are still a big part of how many people get around. 

That’s why we need to plan now — so our shopping strips stay accessible, attractive and welcoming, no matter how you travel. 

What are we exploring?

At peak times, parking in the Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh shopping strips is already close to full. This means more cars circling the block, more congestion, and more frustration for everyone.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are some tools that could help us manage parking more effectively.

We’re looking for feedback on a mix of options:

• Timed parking — encourages turnover so more people can use the same space throughout the day. 

• Parking sensors and smart technology — helps drivers find an available car park more easily, reducing time spent circling. It could also help us to collect data for future planning. 

• User-pays parking — encourages more considered travel choices, promotes fairness, and helps fund improvements to our centres. 

These tools are commonly used by other councils to manage the same challenges.

Have your say

We’re still exploring and no decisions have been made. These are your shopping strips, and your voice matters. Your lived experience and local knowledge will help shape how we plan for the future.

Have your say before Sunday 24 August. To learn more and take the survey, visit our Have Your Say page.