Oakleigh Central traders suffering big losses since free parking time was halved at shopping centre

SMALL business owners at an Oakleigh shopping centre say shoppers are staying away in droves since the free parking time limit on centre car parks was slashed three weeks ago.

SMALL businesses at a shopping centre in Melbourne’s southeast say trade has been decimated since the free parking time limit on centre car parks was slashed three weeks ago.

Traders reported overnight losses of at least 20 per cent since the new parking system was introduced, with reports of some businesses suffering 50 or even a 90 per cent reduction in trade.

OUTCRY AS SHOPPING CENTRE CUTS FREE TIME FROM THREE HOURS TO 90 MINUTES

OAKLEIGH CENTRAL CRITICISED FOR PERSONAL INFO REQUIREMENT

Some traders spoke to Monash Leader about the disastrous immediate impact and their concerns for the future.

The traders unanimously say the $5 million upgrade to the centre was needed, describing the previous carpark as “a shemozzle”, with people parking there all day and taking customers’ spots.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Does paying for parking deter you from shopping? Tell us below

But while introducing paid ticketless parking was not an issue, the reduction of free parking from three hours to 90 minutes was an big problem, with traders also only told a week before it started.

“It has an effect because people want to shop with leisure, have a sweet or a coffee,” a trader said.

“They don’t want to be all the time looking at their watch.”

Customers who spend $30 at Coles or Woolworths can gain an extra 30 minutes parking without charge.

Oakleigh Central recently introduced ticketless parking. Photo: Daniel Pockett

Traders warned the effect was “snowballing” to businesses outside of the centre and on Eaton Mall.

“This is like a village here,” a trader said.

“People go outside, they have a coffee, they want to take their time.

“The other thing is “it’s three hours (free at other centres) — why do we have to be different?” he said.

“What makes us different to The Glen, to Southland?”

Customers have told traders that they are going elsewhere — to The Links in Oakleigh, or the shopping centres at Chadstone, Brandon Park or Waverley Gardens.

The impact has been so sudden that traders are already reducing shifts of employees.

“I can’t live with the numbers dropping so drastically every week,” a trader said.

“The afternoon flow is gone, the morning rush is gone.

“We’ve given our opinions (to centre management). But it’s a bit like talking to that brick wall over there.”

Another trader feared for the future of some businesses.

“I can see in the next couple of months if the situation doesn’t change, half of the shops here will close,” they said.

“We seem to be floating in the ocean, we’re drowning and they are just looking at us saying, ‘that’s OK, we will wait a little bit more’ until we go down the bottom.

“And then it will be too late.”