By Alesha Capone
HOBSONS Bay City Council has announced $515,000 to upgrading and building car parks in the area, many of which are classified as in poor or very poor condition.
Councillor Tony Briffa said the council’s priority list of works in the 2011/2012 program focused on improving car parks in reserves, community facilities and off-road facilities.
“Topping the list for upgrading are Altona Basketball Centre, Kim Reserve, Altona North Bocce Club, Grant Reserve at the end of Sugargum Drive, inside the athletics ground and next to the hockey club rooms and Cresser Reserve/Altona Boating and Angling Club,” he said.
The council’s car park upgrade program recommends $50,000 be spent on the “Altona Badminton Centre – overflow car parking, west of centre”.
The area is extensively used and in very poor condition, the list read.
Grant Reserve’s hockey area, east of the pavilion, will get $93,000 as the “area has previously been sealed but is in poor condition, broken surface”.
Loft Reserve will receive $50,000 as it is in “very poor condition”, Altona Golf Course $45,600 as the “road/car park needs urgent attention”, White Reserve south of the pavilion will get $138,000 as it is “is in poor condition and is well utilised” and Digman Reserve 2’s north-west reserve corner $8900 as it is in “very poor condition”.
Crofts Reserve, south of pavilion, which was described as “very poor condition”, will get $25,000.
Another $80,000 will be spent on “traffic and parking improvements” at the Woods and Lohse St shops in Laverton and Williamstown Town Hall’s car park will also be upgraded.
Williamstown Chamber of Commerce president Michelle Langlands said she was in favour of upgrading vehicle spaces at sports areas and parks but the proposal would not help many traders out.
“It’s not going to give us any more car parking for business and shops, for commercial operations,” she said.
“Even if you do up parking spaces at Williamstown Town Hall, it still doesn’t increase the number of parking spots in the CBD.”
Kim Walsh, from the Altona Village Traders’ Association, said he was also in favour of the planned upgrades and the council did not necessarily have the land to build more car parks.
“We would like more parking but it could be to the detriment of losing a park or sports building or council building,” he said.
He said the association was working with the council and the lack of parking in Williamstown and Altona was the same as any beachside suburb experienced.
