We invited feedback on parking in Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh shopping strips over one month, from 23 July to 24 August.
During this time, we received 4,943 pieces of feedback, made up of:
Below is a snapshot of what we heard. You can also read the full engagement summary report for more detail.
The survey asked for feedback on parking in Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh shopping strips. We were asking about what’s working, what’s not, and how we could manage parking better
One message was clear: most people do not support user-pays parking.
The community was more open to other practical improvements, including:
The way people experience parking is different across the three centres, with Bentleigh generally seen as the easiest to park, Carnegie the most challenging, and Elsternwick somewhere in between.
Many people shared frustrations about congestion, short time limits and having to circle the block to find a space. Others said parking works well for them and cautioned against changes that could affect accessibility or local businesses
Across the 4,731 survey responses we heard from a wide mix of people across Glen Eira. Most respondents were aged between 35 to 64 (69 percent) and the majority identified as women or girls (65 per cent).
People from all suburbs took part, with the highest numbers living in Bentleigh, Bentleigh East, Carnegie and Elsternwick.
Our community is diverse, and that was reflected in the feedback. Around 15 percent of respondents were born overseas, 15 percent identifying as being from a multicultural background, and 8 per cent speak another language at home.
To read more about the demographics please see pages 34 — 38 in the Engagement report.
We know how much our community values our shopping strips, and we want to get this right.
After considering the feedback, Council endorsed a cautious, staged approach at its meeting on 16 December 2025. This approach focuses on research, consistency and fairness.
The recommended next steps include:
This work is about planning carefully and using evidence to guide future decisions. Implementation details will be shared as they are confirmed and work progresses.
User-pays parking will not be introduced within 12 months following the installation of parking sensors. After this time, a review of the data will help inform the next steps. We will keep the community informed if any changes are considered.
We will add sensors into parking spaces in the shopping strips, and a smart app will be developed to show real-time parking availability. The sensors will help Council better understand how parking is used, support more timely and efficient enforcement, and provide clearer information about parking demand.
We are exploring changes to parking limits. This might mean changes to restrictions during evenings and weekends in all three activity centres.
If you want to stay up to date on this project, click the Follow button below and provide your email.
To learn more about the community's feedback and Council's decision:
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.
As Glen Eira grows, these areas are getting busier — and finding a car park is becoming harder.
Our busiest shopping strips are Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh, so we want your feedback on these areas first.
People want more trees, seating, outdoor dining and public gathering
areas. At the same time, we know that cars are still a big part of how
many people get around.
Our population is on track to grow from 151,096 in 2017 to 180,626 by 2036. That means more people, more homes — and more cars.
With limited space and more people using our shopping strips every day, we want to look at how we manage parking to make the most of what we have. In 2023, the Community Priorities Panel from Our Priorities, Our Future recommended that Council review how parking is managed.
We know change could be challenging, but being responsible with parking management now could bring real benefits.
Fewer cars circling means smoother traffic and safer streets.
More turnover means more people can find a car park when they need one.
Revenue from parking could be reinvested into local upgrades, like footpaths, lighting, bike parking, greenery and public spaces.
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've listed some of these tools under the icons below, and you can read more about them in our consultant's report.
These tools are commonly used by other councils to manage the same challenges.
We’re still exploring and no decisions have been made. These are your shopping strips, and your voice matters.
This encourages turnover so more people could use the same space throughout the day.
This can help drivers find an available car park more easily, reducing time spent parking.
This encourages more considered travel choices, promotes fairness, and helps fund improvements to our centres. Recommended by our Community Priorities Panel in 2023.
This engagement has now closed. We are now reviewing everyone's feedback and will share our Engagement Report on 16 October.
To let us know what you think, you can:
The survey and opportunity for feedback has now closed, and we are now reviewing the community's feedback.
Thank you to everyone who has participated!
Our Engagement Report will provide a public summary of the community's feedback. It will be shared at the Council meeting on Thursday 16 October 2025. We will also share it on this webpage, and notify you if you have provided your email address.
Your feedback will help shape Council's future decision making. Council will consider another report about the options for parking management on Wednesday 5 November.
To stay informed about this engagement, please provide your email below or click the Follow button at the top of the page.
You can also email us with any questions at engagement@gleneira.vic.gov.au or contact us on 9524 3333.
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Phone | 03 9524 3333 |
|---|---|
| mail@gleneira.vic.gov.au |
