By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
FEARS of a car parking shortage in central Noble Park have intensified after the planning approval of a five-storey development at 1 Noble Street.
Councillor Roz Blades, who opposed the 17-dwelling apartment building with medical clinic, said she’d push for the council to build a large car park to avert “Noble Park going down the gurgler”.
The approved development included 37 on-site car spaces.
It borders the site for a planned 90-plus apartment development, which will create further parking congestion, Cr Blades said.
“It needs to hold a lot of cars otherwise shoppers are going to drive past Noble Park because they can’t park there,” Cr Blades said.
Leonard Avenue optician Adrian Bell said he’d press for unused green space to be converted into car parking such as along Mons Parade and a site next to AMES.
Mr Bell has been leading a petition for more all-day parking for irate traders and staff.
He said the parking shortage was forcing staff to run the risk of using two-hour parking spaces.
“I’ve got two fines that I’m not going to pay. If I go to court, so be it.”
A majority of councillors voted for the development – which failed to attract a formal public objection.
Cr Jim Memeti noted the council would be unlikely to prevail in a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appeal if it rejected the development.
