Tea Tree Gully Council may call on Westfield to abandon its plan for paid parking at Tea Tree Plaza

A secret motion has revealed the local council may call on Westfield to abandon its plans for paid parking at Tea Tree Plaza following a week of backlash.

Tea Tree Plaza workers Dylan Godfrey and Dianne Hewitt oppose Westfield's paid parking plan. Picture: Ben Cameron

Tea Tree Gully Council will consider pushing shopping centre giant Westfield to abandon its plans to introduce paid parking plans at Tea Tree Plaza.

A draft motion from elected members, seen by The Messenger, calls on Westfield to withdraw its application with the State Government’s assessment panel to install ticketless parking infrastructure with boom gates.

The plan has drawn the ire of centre staff, customers and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, who say it would be an extra financial burden and potentially create further safety issues after dark.

It is understood the motion will be presented to elected members at the next council meeting on February 23.

Woolworths worker Nichol Abraham was concerned moving the staff’s designated parking area would create further safety issues. Picture: Ben Cameron

If approved, the council would formally notify Westfield it was opposed to paid parking at the centre and request it find other options to address local parking issues.

It would also write to Transport Minister Corey Wingard and Member for Newland Richard Harvey and request the State Government build a second Park ‘n’ Ride at Modbury to alleviated parking congestion.

Dr Harvey said on social media last week he did not support paid parking at the shopping centre.

“These charges are an unfair impost on customers and workers,” Dr Harvey said.

Cr Lucas Jones said the “overwhelming response” from the community so far was one of opposition.

Tea Tree Gully Cr Lucas Jones said congestion at the Modbury Park ‘n’ Ride was causing residents to park in side streets. Picture: AAP/Sam Wundke.

“I urge the State Government to instead do what they had previously committed to do and build a second Park ‘n’ Ride at Modbury to deal with overflow parking at the plaza,” Cr Jones said.

“A second Park ‘n’ Ride at Modbury would go a long way in resolving this issue and it’s a no-brainer.

“The issue can still be resolved by other ways rather than going down the paid parking approach.

“Westfield is a valuable contributor to the local community and I urge them to listen to our concerns.”

Westfield has previously said it wanted to “enhance the parking experience” at the centre and it would still provide free parking for a period of time.

It has been sought for further comment.