Blackburn Square carpark under fire for “impractical” planning and design

Trees and poles in car spaces, drivers going the wrong way, hard to manoeuvre turns- a new carpark in Melbourne’s east has been described as a “disaster”.

Blackburn Square shopping centre carpark has not won many fans. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Drivers have unleashed on the new carpark at Blackburn Square Shopping Centre, with one describing it as “the worst carpark in Australia”.

The centre, on the corner of Springfield and Williams Rd in Blackburn North, is undergoing a huge upgrade but drivers aren’t impressed with its two main parking areas.

In the carpark facing Springfield Rd, a number of trees have been planted at the end of a large number of parking spots, along with silver bollards.

“Hard enough to fit a car in spots as it is! Impractical planning/design,” a shopper told Leader.

When Leader visited the centre on Wednesday, most shoppers gave the carpark a thumbs down.

One shopper said he even returned back to his car parked in the carpark last November to find someone had smashed into the front of it.

Bailey said the carpark was too narrow, there were not enough parking spaces, and it got too packed.

A worker at the centre said she received daily complaints from customers about the carpark.

Shopper Rhonda Parker said parking at the centre was a “farce”.

She said the carpark was so bad it was putting shoppers off visiting, with tradies taking up a number of spots.

“I actually found a carpark today last time I drove all the way around then I drove to Blackburn South, I just couldn’t stand it.”

Shopper Nilu said the spaces were too small and there were already marks on the bollards from drivers hitting them.

On the Whitehorse Leader Facebook page, Sally Gibson said the carpark was “a disaster”.

“Cars driving the wrong way, the entrance/ exit is a mess and the carpark is full of tradie utes during business hours.

“Also, two cars can barely pass on the corner at the bottom of the entrance ramp. There are so many near misses. Something really needs to be done about it.”

The trees and poles in the car spaces.

The design has been labelled “impractical”.

Jess Goldsmith said it was “the worst designed carpark” she had ever been in.

“So disappointing that we have a lovely new shopping centre that is so difficult to access.

With so many elderly residents in the area, I daresay they will find it extremely difficult to manoeuvre shopping trolleys in the Williams Rd carpark as the slant of the ground forces you to push the trolley sideways when getting to the Cootamundra end parking spots.”

Bailey's car was damaged in a crash last November in the carpark.

He believes the carpark is too narrow.

“Worst car park in Australia,” Melissa Collard said.

“In my opinion it is poorly designed. I always felt the Springfield front entrance carpark is a nightmare to exit. It’s a shame with such new amenities and wonderful shops, I hesitate and avoid the place due to the parking disaster,” Aashu Mahna said.

“Awful!” Sarah JA said.

“Parks are way too small, and I don’t own a big car. It’s a bottleneck, with cars backed up trying to enter exit. I will not shop there now – it’s terrible!”

The design has raised eyebrows.

Blackburn Square centre manager Stan Crinis said the redevelopment plans, including the carpark layout and detail were in accordance with plans approved by Whitehorse Council.

“Our customers will appreciate that we have been in a transitional phase with redevelopment works ongoing over the last two years but we are very excited about completing the development over the coming months for the benefit of the local community.”

Whitehorse Council city development director Jeff Green said the plans for the carpark were put forward by the developer, endorsed by the council, and meet the standards of the planning scheme.

The new modern addition to the shopping centre will house Aldi and new casual dining and fresh food tenants on the ground floor.

The upper floors will contain a mezzanine carpark with MyHealth Medical Centre, Star Car Wash and the new Whitehorse Community Centre premises.

The first floor structure will be home to Good Start Early Learning, Little Mandarin Yoga and pilates and a new Jetts 24hr gym.