Parking issue is drummed in

By Shaun Inguanzo
ISSUES surrounding opening times for council-owned multi-level car parks in Central Dandenong could be resolved when the Drum Theatre opens in February.
The council-owned facilities in Thomas and Walker streets currently close at 5pm on Friday and Saturday nights, a move which has frustrated some nearby restaurant owners.
The issue came to light after Greater Dandenong mayor Peter Brown’s decision to halt parking fees on all street parking in Central Dandenong from late December until the 31 January.
Cr Brown this week told Star the fee cull was operating well, but had unearthed concerns from Central Dandenong traders who aired their frustration over multi-level car parks and also over street spots being swallowed up by shop staff parking in customer areas.
Sinbad Lebanese Restaurant owner John Camillo operates his business on Thomas Street, and said it was disappointing that both multi-level parking lots were closed on Friday and Saturday evenings.
“My point is they are not open when the street is busy and this goes against, or is in conflict with, council’s stated policy in trying to promote activity in the area, particularly for restaurants,” he said.
Mr Camillo said on-street parking was limited on Thomas Street, and with the refurbished Liquid nightclub to reopen in the near future he feared night-time parking along the street would be almost impossible unless the parking lots were opened.
Cr Brown said he would raise the issue at the 23 January council meeting.
“If (council) is not managing them well in the public interest, perhaps it should lease them out, sharing management costs and benefits,” he said.
But council director of cultural facilities Paul Streefkerk, who is overseeing the Drum Theatre development, confirmed he was investigating parking arrangements to help cope with the expected influx of visitors when the theatre began operation next month.
The arrangements could see the Walker and Thomas streets car parks opened later on Friday and Saturday evenings if they were chosen by The Drum.
“We are in discussion with a couple of car parks around, most certainly some council car parks as well, and The Hub car park, and we will have arrangements to assist people with secure parking,” Mr Streefkerk said.
He said no announcement on the decision would be made until February. Meanwhile, Cr Brown said he had received complaints from traders about other traders using car prime parking spots otherwise for use by customers.
“One of the problems shopkeepers have is the two-hour parking limit,” he said. “The problem is that (the limit) is too long because some business owners are inclined to park their cars near the front door because it is convenient.”
Cr Brown said through consultation with traders along Langhorne Street, he would discuss with the council the prospect of reducing two-hour parking limits along the street to 30 minutes or an hour. Dandenong Retail and Traders Association chairman Roy Aspinall said traders who opted to park outside their businesses were consuming car parks for potential customers, and affecting customer turnover for neighbouring businesses.
Mr Aspinall said he wanted to see stricter council policing on timed parking, and urged business owners to park where trade was unlikely to be affected.