By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong councillor Peter Brown has called for parking meters ordered for installation in Springvale to be put in storage.
Cr Brown has withdrawn his support for the12-month $470,000 trial which is set to roll out as early as five weeks’ time.
“I know the meters have been ordered but when they are delivered they can be put in storage at our depot and used to replace other parking meters.”
Cr Brown said free-parking business districts such as Glenhuntly Road in Elsternwick, Chapel Street in Prahran and streets surrounding South Melbourne Market were thriving.
“All very successful high traffic areas which demonstrably do not need tin tax offices adjacent to each car parking spot,” he said.
Meanwhile councillor Youhorn Chea has announced that he will move to scrap the trial at the 27 July council meeting.
A previous rescission motion introduced by Cr Chea was defeated in April and the expenditure was then approved in June’s yearly budget.
Mayor and Lightwood Ward colleague Sean O’Reilly, who supports the trial of the $1.20 hourly meters, raised doubts whether Cr Chea’s motion would be allowed.
“Once a clear decision is made, the earliest any sort of change can happen is three months – by which time (the meters) will be installed.”
Cr Chea in turn threatened to withdraw electoral support for Cr O’Reilly – a previous running mate – in the 2016 council elections.
“I told him already I won’t support any councillor that supports the parking meter fees,” Cr Chea said.
Cr O’Reilly said that if the trial worked as well as the council hoped, the pro-meters councillors should get “credit for supporting a brave initiative.
“I’m aware of the (lobbying) pressure but the situation is the council is resolved to introduce (the trial).”
He said the trial – coupled with a new early-bird pricing for the underutilised multi-deck No.8 car park – aims to fix Springvale’s traffic congestion and parking shortage.
The council says car parking was up to 97 per cent full at times with a third of traffic comprised of drivers circling for a parking spot.
“When this improves, Springvale will grow as a shopping destination,” Cr O’Reilly said.
