Parking Infringement Refund Scheme

The Road Safety Act 1986 enables councils to increase the penalty for 11 minor parking offences up to a maximum 0.5 penalty unit; however, a specific Council resolution is required to increase the parking penalty units. Without a resolution, councils can only apply a 0.2 penalty unit.

Due to an administrative error, Baw Baw Shire Council applied the maximum 0.5 penalty unit to the lower-level parking infringement types without a specific Council resolution to do so. 

At the time when the error was made, Council officers believed the fees were set as statutory fees which didn't need any further action from Council.

Baw Baw Shire Council only issued fines for 7 of the 11 types of minor parking offences.

While the fines were validly issued, the amount charged exceeded the default rate permitted without formal approval. To correct this error, Council will issue a partial refund – the portion of the fine amount that was incorrectly charged.

Fines issued from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2016 are excluded from the refund scheme – these fines were correct, as the fine amount was adopted as part of Council’s annual Fees & Charges.

Fines issued from 5 August 2025 onwards do not form part of the refund scheme as the error was fixed on this date.

Motorists who received parking fines between  

• 1 January 2002 to 30 June 2010; or  

• 1 July 2016 to 4 August 2025  

• for 7 types of parking offences 

who paid those fines and can provide the required evidence in support of their application may be eligible for a refund of the overcharged amount.

Fines that have been registered with Fines Victoria and paid in full may be eligible for a partial refund.

The 7 offences are:

Once applications are open, you will be able to check your eligibility online. To do so, you will need an infringement number or a vehicle registration number.

If you have confirmed that you may be eligible for a partial refund, you can apply by:

Completing an Application:

• Parking Infringement Refund Scheme form available at the Shire’s Customer Service Centres at Drouin and Warragul.
• You will have to attach the documents as required by the application form.

Continuing with an online application:

• There are more details about the documents you will require once you start the online application process.

You will need an infringement number or a vehicle registration number to check your eligibility online.

Once you have confirmed that you may be eligible, you will need to provide the required documentation based on your application. This includes:

• Bank details – a document that shows:
  • Bank account name
  • Account number
  • BSB number

If you are the registered owner of the vehicle you will have to provide at least one of the below:

• Certificate of vehicle registration for the relevant state.
• Proof of car insurance.
• Proof of vehicle purchase.
• Vehicle servicing documentation. 
• A completed vehicle transfer form (if you have since sold the vehicle).
• Other forms of proof that may be assessed individually.
  
  

If you are the nominated driver and you have paid the fine, you will have to provide at least one of the below:

• A statutory declaration signed by the registered owner of the vehicle. 
• A statutory declaration signed by the nominated driver of the vehicle. 
• Letter from the business (if the vehicle is company registered). 

  and

• Proof of payment – at least one of the below:
  •  Receipt number or printed payment receipt. 
  • Bank statement.
• It is recommended that the statutory declaration include:
  • Details of the specific offence or infringement issued, including
    • the time and date of the offence
    • infringement number
    • registration number of the vehicle involved.
  • Confirmation that the applicant was the individual who received and fully paid the infringement.

The Parking Infringement Refund Scheme goes live on 8:30am on Wednesday 8th July 2026. You will have 12 months to apply for a refund.

Once an application has been submitted, it will go to the team to process and assess. The assessment process could take up to 30 days and may be impacted by the number of applications received by Council.

Some further information may be requested as part of the assessment process and applicants will be advised of this in writing if required.

Should your application be approved, it may take a further 30 days for the funds to reach your bank account.

Refunds will be made by electronic transfer to a BSB and bank account number.

The refund applies only to the overcharged portion of the fine. The original infringement remains valid.

The refund amounts will vary based on the date the offence occurred and are set out in the table below.

The application for a refund needs to include personal details of the applicant; evidence of the infringement and a signed declaration by the applicant.

Should a situation exist where the applicant is unable to complete the application, you can contact Council on 5624 2411 or 1300 229 229 for further assistance or advice. 

If your parking infringement was determined through a court proceeding, it falls outside the scope of the Parking Infringement Refund Scheme.

Courts have discretion to impose fine amounts as they see fit and court-imposed fines are not included in the refund scheme. Once a matter has been heard and resolved in court, Council no longer has authority to adjust or refund the outcome.

No. The fines issued will not be cancelled or withdrawn.

The parking infringements are valid – it’s only the amount charged that was incorrect. That’s why Council is offering a partial refund. As the refunds are offered only for parking infringements that have been paid, the infringement can’t be re-appealed or further reviewed.