parking

By Melissa Grant
SHOPPERS may soon be scrambling for loose change to pay for parking in Pakenham’s retail heartland, with underground and boom-gated parking areas on the agenda.
Additional timed parking zones close to the Main Street will also be considered as civic leaders look at ways to solve the town’s parking woes.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson said residents could expect to be charged for using new parking areas close to Pakenham’s main shopping area.
“The biggest problem is people want more parking but want it much closer (to Main Street) where they can easily walk and that’s difficult,” he said.
“If you’re going to go either above or underground then we don’t have the money to pay for that.”
Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents’ Association president Gloria O’Connor has called for the council to consider installing boom gate parking – similar to that at Casey Hospital – to recoup its costs.
“I’m inclined to the view that if they (council) bought land for car parking the people that use it should have to pay some minimal charge,” she said.
“I think that if the fares could be kept minimal, high usage should generate some income back to the council.
“Some people are going to bite my head off about this but I’m being practical.”
Pakenham Business Group (PBG) president Sue Day said user-pay car parks would work in certain areas – provided the charge was capped.
“Paid parking would have to be an all-day arrangement and cost $5 or something,” she said.
But Central Ward Councillor Brett Owen said he wouldn’t support any form of user-pay parking.
“I’m against making people pay for parking – that would discourage people from shopping in Pakenham,” he said.
Cr Owen said the key was getting people seeking long-term parking to park further away from the Main Street by putting more time restrictions in place.
Ms Day said the PBG was pushing for three-hour parking in some areas, particularly those close to hairdressing salons.
Cr Pearson said all options were on the table as the Cardinia Shire Council undertook a review of the whole shopping area.
“There’s the possibility of moving the two crossings that people are complaining about and the possibility of turning Main Street into a mall,” he said.
Mrs O’Connor said any makeover needed to consider people with special needs, including the frail and mothers with young children.
Cr Pearson said the council was more than willing to listen to residents’ ideas.
“If people have ideas get them in to the council or in to the mayor and we will put them on the table – we will listen to anything,” he said.
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