Dandenong Ward councillor Jim Memeti with Thomas Street traders Qasim Nagimi, Zaki Azad, Ferdi Salievski and landlord Dino Muedini, who are hoping the council will reduce the number of bus stops and incorporate more parking spaces for the struggling businesses.
By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG traders have slammed Thomas Street’s large number of bus stops as ‘overkill’ and are pushing to have half removed and replaced by car parking.
After suffering ongoing financial losses due to a lack of customer traffic, traders along the western side of the north end of Thomas Street this week handed a petition to the City of Greater Dandenong in a bid to increase the number of car parks.
Landlord Dino Muedini said traders operating out of his shopfronts had experienced a decline in business since parking was removed from the middle of Thomas Street several years ago.
He said after parking was removed, no alternatives were provided, making it difficult for shoppers to park near the west side stores.
Mr Muedini said the traders were hoping the council would act swiftly to resolve the issue considering it was in the process of revitalising central Dandenong.
“If council is serious about revitalising Dandenong this is a great start to give it a boost,” he said.
“It is a great city with a lot of potential because we are the second city of Melbourne.
“Traders and council should get together and come up with a commonsense approach to bus stops and parking on the west side of Thomas Street.”
Bamyan Shop trader Zaki Azad said his customers had complained they were receiving fines because they were forced to park in the bus zones.
“They are arguing with bus drivers too. They are very upset and customers are not coming back,” he said.
Dandenong Ward councillor Jim Memeti said he supported the traders’ stance and would help them resolve the parking problem.
He said there was no need to have so many bus stops considering there were others nearby.
“The (Dandenong) train station is a five-minute walk (from Thomas Street), if people need more buses they can walk for five minutes,” Cr Memeti said.
City of Greater Dandenong engineering services director Tim Tamlin said the council would be happy to meet with the traders to investigate their concerns.
