By NICOLE VALICEK
HOBSONS Bay City Council has introduced a new permit zone trial for local residents at Laverton Railway Station to ease crippling congestion.
With parking reaching unprecedented levels at the station residents living in Seabrook, Altona Meadows and Laverton can now apply for a permit in advance of the trial beginning in late February.
According to the council, the introduction of the 45-space permit zone follows resident concerns about the parking at the station.
Deputy Mayor Colleen Gates said this was “the first step towards restoring the amenity of the area, and improving the safety of the local residents, pedestrians and commuter traffic.
“The introduction of the 45-space permit zone follows a number of residents raising concerns
about the difficulty of finding available parking at the station.”
The car park has about 1000 spaces for commuters using the station, but it is often at capacity by the morning peak.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said an additional safety issue for residents relates to the overflow of parking at the former Laverton Primary School site, which has “become unsightly”.
The permit zoned area will run along the north side of Railway Avenue from Grace St to the
Princes Freeway overpass.
Once the permit signs are displayed in late February, council officers will start issuing fines for anyone parking illegally in the zone.
Meanwhile a petition with 74 signatures was tabled to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria last week calling for the installation of automated safety barriers at North Williamstown railway station.
In particular, the petition noted that the crossing was located near to three local schools and there was a high volume of foot traffic through the crossing.
Hobsons Bay residents can apply for permits using the Greenlight permit management system on the council’s website.
