By Charlene Gatt
PAID parking could be making its way to Yarraville.
Maribyrnong City Council has commissioned a report that will look at the possible expansion of paid parking in other shopping centres across the City of Maribyrong, including Anderson St in Yarraville.
The report, which will be tabled at a council meeting next year, is likely to appease Footscray traders who don’t understand why paid parking is only being rolled out across Footscray’s CBD and not other busy shopping precincts like Yarraville or Highpoint.
A council report concedes: “It is noted that while Yarraville is a much smaller centre and catchment area with a different mix of business and parking requirements, it does at times experience high parking demand and traffic congestion.”
But not all councillors are convinced that paid parking is needed across the municipality.
“Yarraville definitely isn’t a Central Activities Area, Footscray is one of those six within Victoria,” Cr Sel Sanli said.
“We’re not just talking about a shopping strip here, the State Government has recognised it as something big. There, we’re not comparing apples with apples.”
Mayor Sarah Carter agreed.
“The scope of this study was for Footscray, and Footscray is uniquely different to the rest of those activities areas.
“I don’t believe you can compare the two, but that’s not to say there’s not a case for paid parking in Yarraville.”
Cr Dina Lynch pointed out that the council could not introduce paid parking in the Highpoint Shopping Centre car parks, because they were privately owned by GPT.
