By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
SPRINGVALE traders are mounting a campaign against Greater Dandenong Council’s plans to introduce on-street parking meters.
Springvale Asian Business Association (SABA) is sending out 2000 pamphlets to traders, stating its “firm opposition” and urging them to voice their opposition against the “revenue raising measure”.
The meters – expected to yield $900,000 annually – were endorsed by councillors on 13 April.
A rescission motion tabled by Cr Youhorn Chea against the meters was defeated at a council meeting on Monday night.
Ten protesters held “No meter parking in Springvale” signs in the meeting gallery during the debate.
On Tuesday, SABA spokesman Stan Chang angrily denied the council’s claims that SABA supported the move, nor that the business group was formally consulted.
Mr Chang said the last time he spoke to council officers about their proposal was during a “preliminary” and “confidential” discussion on “dozens of issues” in 2013.
“I didn’t give an indication of support.
“If the council thinks they’ve done their homework in the interests of traders, then consult with traders and put the case to them first.”
He warned that most traders were against metered parking, worried that shoppers would desert them for similar retail strips in Clayton and Glen Waverley.
Earlier this month Mr Chang, speaking to the Journal, did not endorse the council decision but estimated 40 to 50 per cent of traders would “see the rationale” if the revenue was placed into an arm’s length reserve fund for improved parking.
He said most would be “up in arms” if it was diverted towards the $20 million-plus Springvale civic centre and library redevelopment.
Under questioning at Monday’s council meeting, city planning director Jody Bosman said he stood by a council report’s assertion that SABA was consulted and would support the meters if revenue was invested in central Springvale.
The report stated that the revenue would be put in a reserve fund for “facilities and amenity” in central Springvale.
In justifying the move, the council stated meters would help decongest street parking – up to 97 per cent full on Friday and Saturday peak-times.
The report relied heavily on arguments from the book The High Cost of Free Parking by US-based Professor Donald Shoup.
The $1.20-an-hour fees were expected to increase over the next four years in line with Dandenong’s parking rates.
