By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong Council says it has acted “appropriately” in response to claims it leaked a record of a confidential meeting to assert that a traders’ group supported on-street parking meters in Springvale.
Springvale Asian Business Association spokesman Stan Chang has accused the council of being “totally unethical and unprofessional” in a letter to councillors and council executives.
He claims his “personal” and “off-the-cuff” view given during a “preliminary and confidential chat” with council officers in 2013 was later misrepresented by the council as SABA’s “green light” for the meters.
“It was under no circumstances that I gave my support on SABA’s behalf,” Mr Chang said.
“I have to make it very clear that council has not sent SABA any formal proposal on the matter and that local traders have not been properly consulted.”
SABA has driven a petition campaign, collecting about 2000 signatures in opposition to the meters.
The council has argued the meters are needed to improve traffic and parking flow in central Springvale while opponents said the meters – expected to yield $900,000 a year – will drive away customers.
Julie Reid, the council’s engineering services director, said: “In relation to this matter, all correspondence and information has been managed appropriately.”
“We have reconfirmed with SABA that they are a very important stakeholder in the success of Springvale and we look forward to continuing our work together to take Springvale towards an exciting future.”
Mr Chang told the Journal that he was not surprised by the council’s denial of wrong doing.
“They say they haven’t done the wrong thing but what I tried to indicate in my message is they haven’t done the right thing.
“But they say they want to work with SABA in the future – I take that as quite genuine.”
