By Charlene Gatt
THE paid parking debate will come to a head tonight when Maribyrnong City Council votes on whether it will double paid parking across Footscray’s CBD.
The council will consider the findings of an independent consultant’s report and public consultation when it considers its proposed expansion of paid parking machines, which will cover about 700 car parking bays in central Footscray.
The expansion would mean around 1350 parking spaces in Footscray would fall under paid parking.
Residents with a valid parking permit will not pay for parking in their street.
Maribyrnong City Council tabled its paid parking consultation at last month’s council meeting, noting that between its blog pages, letters and meetings with traders, the majority of people did not support more paid parking in Footscray’s CBD.
Star rang all seven councillors last week to gauge how they would vote on the matter, with all supporting some form of paid parking expansion.
Mayor Sarah Carter, who strongly opposed paid parking in Footscray when she ran for council in 2008, said a mix of paid parking and longer-term free parking would be just the ticket for Footscray’s CBD.
“Running as a candidate, you don’t necessarily have all the information available to you that you have once you’re elected,” Cr Carter said.
“The report from the consultants has been able to demonstrate that in the right areas, paid parking can actually increase turnover and therefore it’s better for the local economy.
“It’s having that information that’s been able to give me a more in-depth view of the issues that come into play.”
Councillor John Cumming voted against more paid parking in 2009, but said he would vote for it this time around, provided there were concessions like multi-storey car parks.
“I certainly oppose anything towards the south and west of the shopping centre, around Raleigh St and Nicholson St, Albert St and Paisley St,” Cr Cumming told Star.
“They’re the areas the residents said they don’t want (paid parking).”
Sister and fellow councillor Catherine Cumming said she supported paid parking within the Footscray CBD “ring road area”, but added that free longer-term car parking should be made available outside of that.
She also said that Paisley St should have more disabled car parking.
Councillor Dina Lynch told Star she was still undecided on whether paid parking should be fully rolled out or in certain areas, while councillor Sel Sanli commented: “It’s not black and white, there’s a lot of things that we need to do to ensure we don’t disadvantage anyone.”
