Street works cost parking

By Paul Dunlop
ROADWORKS planned for Bunyip’s town centre have sparked fears traders will be robbed of vital car parking space.
Pat Wakefield of the Bunyip Village Cafe and Old Wares said the works, part of a $240,000 streetscape upgrade, could leave his customers with nowhere to park.
Mr Wakefield, whose 100yearold general store is a central focal point for everybody from school children to families and elderly pensioners, said many residents were against Cardinia Shire Council’s plan.
“I don’t know anyone in favour of it,” he said.
“Council says it’s a community initiative, but nobody I’ve spoken to wants it. I’ve set up a petition, people are breaking their necks to sign it.”
Works to revitalise Bunyip’s town centre, upgrading footpaths and improving the streetscape began last year and has included the redevelopment of Anzac Park.
The next stage of the project includes a reshaping of High Street to improve safety. Designs are still being finalised, but Mr Wakefield is concerned he could lose most, if not all, of the parallel parking space outside his corner shop.
Mr Wakefield said he could not understand why, as the town gets bigger, car parking should be reduced.
“There is limited parking in the town and people, especially elderly people or mums with kids, want to get as close to the shop as they can,” he said.
“For me, it’s major. If people can’t pull up out the front, they won’t pull up at all. They’ll go somewhere else.”
Bunyip Ward councillor Bill Pearson said he empathised with Mr Wakefield’s situation and acknowledged he did have a genuine concern.
Cr Pearson said council was looking at alternative designs in a bid to come up with a compromise.
“We are looking at it and I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to do something for Pat,” Cr Pearson said.
“Technically, the car parks are council’s, not his, but we don’t want to cut off his business.
“The road has to be squared off for no other reason than pedestrian safety along that corner. We’ve never had a fatal collision, but we’ve had a lot of near misses.”
Cr Pearson said development including the town’s new supermarket would ensure Bunyip’s town centre continued to provide plenty of parking for shoppers.
Work is expected to begin after Easter.