Tea Tree Plaza workers fear Westfield’s paid parking plan will increase safety concerns

Workers fear a Westfield plan to install paid parking will leave them vulnerable to physical attacks and stalking.

Woolworths worker Nichol Abraham said a colleague was punched in the face in his car before a shift. Picture: Ben Cameron.

Tea Tree Plaza workers have raised safety concerns with increased instances of stalking and physical attacks after dark if Westfield’s plans to install paid parking at the centre are approved.

Woolworths online employee Nichol Abraham told The Messenger on Friday morning it was “ridiculous” Westfield had applied to the State Government’s assessment panel to install ticketless parking infrastructure with boom gates.

Ms Abraham, who sometimes works until midnight, said she was concerned a designated staff carparking area would be located further away from the centre.

Centre staff currently park in a designated area where Tea Tree Gully Council, which monitors parking on behalf of Westfield, does not issue fines.

Ms Abraham said a colleague was punched in the face while sitting in his car before a shift last week and had since put in for a transfer.

“I feel like we call security two to three times a week at night time,” Ms Abraham said.

“There’s always intoxicated people … screaming, yelling, it’s just really scary.”

She said she was often “petrified” about walking 20 steps to her car at night.

Myer team leader Dylan Godfrey and Coles employee and SDA delegate Dianne Hewitt have safety concerns for workers getting to their cars at night. Picture: Ben Cameron.

Myer team leader Dylan Godfrey said staff sometimes had to walk female workers to their cars at night for safety reasons.

Coles team member and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association delegate Dianne Hewitt said one of her colleagues was stalked after walking to their car.

“It can be quite daunting (walking a night). Sometimes the lights are turned off … you can’t see where you’re going, you don’t know if anybody is lurking,” Ms Hewitt said.

“It can be quite dangerous.”

SDA secretary Josh Peak told reporters he was worried a planned staff parking area would be in an “extreme location” on the edges of the site.

“Many of our members are threatened in this car park,” Mr Peak said, who was concerned staff could be slugged up to $35 a day to park as some do at Westfield West Lakes.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas, with Florey MP Frances Bedford, will assess parliament’s options to “intervene” with Westfield’s application. Picture: Ben Cameron.

In a statement on Thursday, Westfield assured customers a period of free parking would remain at the centre.

However, an internal email to Tea Tree Gully councillors also revealed centre staff would be allocated a parking area at a “discounted rate”.

Over 600 people have signed a SDA petition already calling on Westfield to cancel their plans.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said the plan was “plain wrong and it’s gotta be stopped”.

“The only winner out of this is Westfield and their corporate greed,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We are going to (find out) … what options are available to the parliament to intervene in this matter.”

A Westfield spokeswoman said on Thursday its plans would “enhance the parking experience” and ensure free parking periods remain.