By Stephen Linnell
BUSINESSES have attacked a Wyndham Council decision to slash a further 16 car park spaces from the Werribee CBD.
The council last week endorsed development of the land at the north end of Wedge St as the entry point for a pedestrian bridge over the Werribee River.
But the development means the current high-use car park will go – leaving Watton St restaurant owners angry.
“It’s just going to make it harder again,” Baffetti restaurant owner Cheryl Arrowsmith said.
“If there is something on at the Cultural Centre it is just mayhem.
“I’ve got customers that walk from near the primary school because it’s just impossible to get a car park.
“Not happy, Jan, if they’re going to take another 16 away.
“They’ve stuck us businesses down this end but they haven’t made the car parking any easier for anyone.”
Ms Arrowsmith said restaurant owners were already suffering because of the acute lack of car parking at that end of Watton St.
“If they’re taking more away it’s going to impact on everyone,” she said.
“It’s hard to put a ballpark figure on it, but everyone in this area is going to be affected.”
The decision by the council forms part of the development of an ‘urban plaza’ along the Werribee River, which would lead into the bridge and become a ‘staging point’ for people to meet and access Watton St and the soon-to-be-developed Wyndham Park.
The council last week voted in favour of the development, despite a council report that highlighted the car park’s frequency of use.
Prior to the car park closing temporarily for work on an adjoining block, the council’s traffic engineers conducted a parking survey which indicated “it was well utilised” and at least 80 per cent full on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The council report by place manager Craig Toussaint said if the car parking space was lost, businesses surrounding the area would benefit economically from the increased passing trade the urban plaza was likely to generate.
Council director of economic development and planning Greg Aplin told the council that car parking was “adequate at the moment” in the CBD.
“On balance, it was worth losing 16 spaces,” he said.
Councillor Cynthia Manson argued strongly for the council to develop a strategy for short-term and long-term car parking in the Werribee City Centre – a move endorsed by the council.
Councillor Henry Barlow said he believed restricted car parking was not the issue, but “people just don’t want to walk”.
He said it was also important for the council to “ensure people aren’t overstaying their welcome” in the one-hour zoned parking in Watton St.
The decision to scrap the car parking spaces comes just two weeks after a survey in which residents criticised the council on its performance over traffic management and parking.
The State Government survey, which included more than 300 telephone interviews with Wyndham residents, found the average satisfaction rating for traffic management and parking was 49 per cent, compared to 61 per cent for other ‘like’ councils and 65 per cent across the state.
Preliminary concepts for the Wedge St plaza proposal have earmarked seating and information areas and unique paving designs leading in to the pedestrian bridge and Watton St.
It forms part of other council projects including the Wedge St pedestrian bridge – which is due to start construction soon – the Wyndham Park Master Plan, an elevated river walkway, and on the east side of the land a mixed use development containing restaurants, shops and cafes.
The council agreed to rezone the land to become a ‘shopping mall’, and fund $175,000 as its contribution to the development.
The council will apply for a further $175,000 grant from the State Government for the works.
