By NICOLE VALICEK
A PETITION signed by 88 people has called on the Hobsons Bay City Council to improve the safety, parking and amenities at Blackshaws Rd, Altona.
Ward Councillor Sandra Wilson said it was important to engage with as many shop keepers as possible when listening to concerns about safety and amenities at the shopping strip.
She said the strategy to conduct safety and amenity audits put through motions by Councillor Colleen Gates and to be conducted with Victoria Police and council officers could potentially be dovetailed at Blackshaws Rd.
“It cuts to the core of what most of us campaign, that was to bring vibrancy and vitality to our shopping strips across the municipality, it’s good to see people exercising their option in terms of leading through a petition and getting a community behind them,” she said.
Lead petitioner Nick Gugliotta of A. and L. Gugliotta and Sons Butchers, said he heard about the upgrades at Harrington Square in Altona, and surrounding areas and felt the shopping strip had been forgotten.
“We have been neglected,” he said.
Mr Gugliotta said a big problem for him was having nowhere for delivery trucks, some of which deliver 40-50 kilograms of meat, to park at the strip without getting booked.
“Meat trucks coming to unload can’t back-up and the front nose sticks half way across the road, they have to double park, take up to five or six parking spots and then they get booked.”
He said traders want more parking and something to stop motorists speeding past the strip, like the introduction of speed humps.
Another issue was the lack of signage, seating and the general beautification of the area.
The petition was tabled at the ordinary council meeting on 28 May and acknowledged on 30 May.
The council will hold a meeting with a small group of shop shopkeeper representatives, the Ward councillors and relevant council officers, at a date yet to be set.
