By LAURA WAKELY
MORE than 500 people have signed a petition for more car parking in Oleander Drive in St Albans.
The petition was created by the Holy Eucharist church and signed by 502 people, asking Brimbank City Council to create more car parking on the busy road, which also includes a school and is in walking distance to Ginifer station.
Father Minh Van Tran said there were more than 2300 parishioners who regularly used the church, including a seniors club with almost 100 members and Foodbank.
He said people were often unable to find a park or risked fines by parking illegally and was concerned about senior residents and residents with mobility issues who were visiting the church or hall.
He said an increasing number of commuters were parking in the area because of a lack of parking at Ginifer station.
The church previously had car parking, but this was removed during the renovation of the church hall.
The church installed eight spaces after the renovation six months ago, but these spaces were recently closed by the council.
Council’s General Manager of Infrastructure and Environment Paul Younis said the carpark was installed without council approval and raised serious safety concerns about location and access.
“Being located close to the school crossing and bend in the roadway, the crossing did not meet basic requirements to ensure the safety of children using the crossing,” Mr Younis said.
“Access to the parking also required vehicles to drive over the nature strip and footpath, which have not been constructed for this purpose.”
Council is yet to consider the petition, but Father Minh hoped a resolution could be found.
“We’re an organisation that provides a lot of services to the public so we’re asking if council could help us by providing parking,” Father Minh said.
“I’m trying to make life easier for everybody.”
