Council votes to stop charging motorists to avoid setting “a terrible precedent”

Residents in the City of Casey, Victoria are being urged to support a move to abolish a controversial permit system where motorists were charged fees for storing vehicles on their own property, and gave the council power to confiscate cars. 

A move to end the permits was endorsed by the council last night at its monthly meeting, and if publicly supported will become law in February 2026.

The council will publish its report confirming the details tomorrow, August 21, 2025, when it will open a final round of public feedback via conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/llreview_25 until Thursday 18 September 2025.

It includes, “The removal of clause that required a permit to repair, service, dismantle or store unregistered vehicles on private land. Instead, these activities will now be managed through clauses that relate to unsightly land.”

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“We’re proposing some important changes that directly respond to community feedback,” City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen, in a statement.  

“While we’ve worked hard to ensure the new Local Law reflects our whole community, we know Casey is a large and diverse municipality. What works in one part of our city might not suit another, so we’ve struck a balance between flexibility for residents and protecting the overall look, feel and safety of our neighbourhoods.”

“Community feedback has been key in shaping the draft Local Law. We encourage everyone to review it while it’s on exhibition and share their views to help us get it right. Your feedback will help us make any final adjustments before the new Local Law is adopted,” he said. 

Victorian state MP David Limbrick, who lives in the council’s catchment area, has also urged residents to show their support before the public consultation period ends.

“The proposed change is a sensible return towards respecting property rights and hobbies people have been pursuing for decades,” said a statement from Mr Limbrick. 

“The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia.” 

The City of Casey, 40km south-east of Melbourne, is Victoria’s most populous municipality in Australia, and stretches from the Dandenong Ranges to Western Port Bay.

Earlier this year it reviewed laws introduced in 2024 requiring its 400,000 residents to apply for a permit to store more than two unregistered vehicles on their own property for up to 90 days. 

Residents were forced to pay a non-refundable $150 application fee before paying an additional $250 for an approved permit, for a total $400 cost. 

A permit would also be needed for ‘non-commercial’ work on a vehicle, including dismantling or servicing it, on private property. That meant even a simple oil change would have required a permit.

“The unamended local laws would have set a terrible precedent, not just for locals, but for people across Australia,” said Mr Limbrick.  “Even if you’re not a car enthusiast, councils should not concern themselves with where you park your cars or what you choose to do on your own property so long as you’re not harming others,” said Mr Limbrick.

“A permit system probably would have eventually led to restrictions on all kinds of activities.”

Amid backlash from residents, the council suspended the permit system earlier this year after it impounded two vehicles allegedly stored by a resident without the required permits. 

The council voted to review the regulations saying it was listening to its resident’s views on the issue.

The first round of community feedback was carried out from April 21 to June 1, 2025. This was reviewed before Casey Council endorsed the permit system’s end during its August 19 monthly meeting. 

A petition to the Victorian Government opposing the permit system also remains open and can be signed online until October 2, 2025. 

“When families are required to make hard decisions like not using their family car or paying registration for that quarter or getting their family car serviced by dealers, the Council has placed even greater pressure by requiring families to fork out hundreds of dollars on new permits and fees for activities on their own property,” the petition (Legislative Council Petition #612) said. 

The final review of the amended laws will take place on November 18, 2025. 

MORE: Australian council suspends controversial vehicle fees after community backlash