By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
THE fight against proposed on-street parking meters in Springvale could become a council election issue, says a Greater Dandenong councillor.
Cr Heang Tak said he doubted a majority of councillors would reverse April’s decision for a $470,000, 12-month parking meter trial.
This is despite an energetic Springvale Asian Business Association (SABA) anti-meters campaign, which has collected about 2000 petition signatures in recent weeks.
“To me the trial is a waste of ratepayers’ money,” Cr Tak said.
“Because we may not have enough numbers to oppose it, we’d have to make it a council election issue.”
Cr Tak said there was no evidence that meters would fulfil their stated purpose, which is to free up street parking and encourage more patronage into the under-utilised multi-deck No.8 car park.
The meters are expected to raise about $900,000 annually from motorists, but Cr Tak didn’t think the council was motivated by “revenue raising”.
“There is plenty of room in No.8 car park so the real issue is whether people will park there.
“Councillors should listen to the real experts – they are the traders, the local shoppers and the other local residents who signed the petition.
“With the economy not going well, this is what the traders need least.”
Greater Dandenong councillor Youhorn Chea has also vowed to put the meters back on the agenda.
Cr Chea, who led a failed rescission motion against the meters in April, said meters would “destroy the reputation” of Springvale’s trading district.
They would cause a customer exodus to free-parking shopping areas in Glen Waverley and Clayton, he said.
Since the council’s resolution for meters, SABA had warned that traders would be “up in arms”.
SABA president Daniel Cheng said the introduction of an ‘early bird’ rate had already lured traders from on-street parking spots into No.8 car park.
“We already know the local street parking should be made available for shoppers,” Mr Cheng said.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to use meters. It would put off people straight away.”
A council report in April stated that revenue from the meters would be put in a reserve fund for “facilities and amenity” in central Springvale.
The meters would help decongest on-street parking spots which are up to 97 per cent full on Fridays and Saturdays, the report stated.
The $1.20-an-hour fees were expected to increase over the next four years in line with Dandenong’s parking rates.
City planning, design and amenity director Jody Bosman said the council had “noted” the opposing petition.
The council plans to install the meters by the end of 2015, he said.
