By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong councillor Youhorn Chea is set to introduce a rescission motion to scrap council plans for on-street parking meters in Springvale.
Cr Chea said he was opposing the meters at Monday’s council meeting because of traders’ fears that their businesses could be adversely affected.
“People who want to go to a similar shopping centre can get free parking at Glen Waverley, Springvale South and Clayton.”
He didn’t agree with arguments that the meters would drive shoppers into the under-utilised multi-deck No 8 car park in Balmoral Avenue.
“The car park is hard to move in. People don’t want to go there.”
Councillor Matthew Kirwan supported the meters to help with flow through on-street parking spots, which can be up to 97 per cent filled at peak times.
He agreed with traders’ wishes that parking revenues should be retained for improving the Springvale business area rather than diverted to the $35 million plus nearby civic precinct redevelopment.
Springvale Asian Business Association spokesman Stan Chang warned in last week’s Journal that traders could be “up in arms” over the proposal.
Cr Roz Blades said the move could destroy the business district.
“You stick a parking metre in somewhere and it takes the heart out of it,” she said.
