By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong Council has ordered a report on fixing problems at the much-maligned No 8 Balmoral Avenue car park in Springvale.
Since opening, the multi-deck car park has been plagued by broken-down lifts, ticket machines, boom gates and a tight first turn that has trapped some hapless four-wheel drivers.
Councillor Sean O’Reilly, in a report to the council’s 8 February meeting, stated the main problem was the car park’s “single exit lane for 700 car spaces”.
“All it takes is one customer to bring exit traffic to a standstill.
“This flows on to bring entry traffic to a standstill.”
Star News has been told of instances where an operator has failed to respond when drivers have pressed the car-park’s panic button, such as when the exit boom gate is locked down.
The council will investigate the boom gate’s “down time”, the cost-benefit of having a full-time attendant, and possibly replacing boom gates with pay-and-display ticket machines.
The investigation, due by 11 April, would also look at credit card touch panels at boom gates and a flat 50-cent hourly parking rate – alongside free Sundays and an early bird daily charge.
Cr O’Reilly said it was important to get right what was a “critical piece of infrastructure” in Springvale.
Councillor Yourhorn Chea said the car park always had problems.
Of its ticket machines, one was permanently broken, the other was sometimes working, Cr Chea said.
“I believe a (council) officer will look after the car park much better than a private one.”
Springvale Asian Business Association spokesman Stan Chang welcomed the report’s “positive type of improvements”.
“Because of the significant design flaws, the car park has become a big headache.”
