Parking meters ruled out

By Nathan Johnston
THE City of Greater Dandenong Council made it clear that parking meters in Springvale’s public parking areas were not an option at Monday night’s meeting.
Moves were also made to investigate the removal of all parking meters in Dandenong as early as next year.
The debate followed an article in The Star in which council staff were said to be preparing a review on parking throughout Greater Dandenong, with meters in Springvale an option.
Cr Peter Brown was successful in moving a notice of motion to enforce council’s position on parking meters in Springvale.
“This is a direction to council officers that this council does not want any plans for parking meters in Springvale.”
But Cr John Kelly said a report would be warranted given the concept had support from a Springvale traders’ association, provided all revenue raised was spent improving the CBD.
“The traders want to consider it. They don’t want someone to park in front of their business and shop down the road.
“The intention is to move traffic along. Parking meters might not be the best option, but let’s see what a report comes up with and find out if we can do it better,” he said.
Cr Naim Melhem said the same parking conditions should apply in both Springvale and Dandenong.
“I don’t think it’s fair to charge one end of the municipality and not the other. The same laws should apply throughout the municipality.”
Cr Melhem and Cr Youhorn Chea said paid parking meters on private land should not have been allowed in Springvale in the first place.
“We made a mistake to allow private companies to put parking meters on their car parks,” Cr Chea said.
Cr David Kelly said it was too early to make a decision about the immediate removal of parking meters from Dandenong.
“We have to be sensible and look at the big picture. To say it’s not a revenueraiser is wrong,” Cr Kelly said.
“I realise we have to promote the city, and parking meters don’t do that, but right now we don’t have any answers. This is a kneejerk reaction.”
Cr Roz Blades also called for calm.
“What works in Dandenong doesn’t necessarily work in Springvale and vice versa.
“That’s for an informed debate. We need to make an informed decision with thorough details, and that doesn’t necessarily come with a notice of motion,” Cr Blades said.