People with disabilities, parents short changed by Chadstone’s new valet parking

Melbourne’s biggest shopping centre is under fire for being “elitist” after it relocated some priority parking spots — to make way for a service aimed at cashed-up customers.

Stonnington councillor Sally Davis says Chadstone has reserved its best parking for people who can pay for it rather than those who need it. Picture: Andy Brownbill

People with a disability may find it more difficult to find a park after Chadstone Shopping Centre converted some of its accessible car spaces into valet parking, a Stonnington councillor says.

Cr Sally Davis said she was furious when she noticed during a recent trip to the centre that a section of the carpark accessed via Chadstone Rd was permanently cordoned off for paid parking.

The new valet parking area was closest to the shops and previously partially comprised of wider car spaces reserved for parents with prams and people with disabilities, she said.

The area taken over by valet parking is a short walk the shops. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Now she said she feared these people would find it difficult to find a suitable car space and be forced to walk longer distances to the centre.

“It appears to me Chadstone is giving priority to people who can afford to pay for parking rather than those with higher needs … it’s elitist," Cr Davis said.

“I drove past yesterday about 1pm, which is usually about the busiest time, and there was about three cars in this roped off section, it’s just a waste.”

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People with Disability spokeswoman Samantha French said it would be worrying if accessible parking spaces were removed from the centre’s carpark.

“People with disability need to be able to park close to shopping facilities and often find that without accessible parking we are not able to access those facilities at all,” she said.

Stonnington Council acting chief executive Simon Thomas said Chadstone was compelled to provide disability parking in accordance with Australian standards and the building code of Australia.

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“Council was notified by Chadstone of the introduction of valet parking in April. The changes do not decrease the overall number of carparking spaces available at the centre,” he said.

Chadstone director Fiona Mackenzie said there was no change to the number of pram or disability car spaces and 20 parents with prams spaces were moved closer to Baby Bunting.

Four disabled spaces were also relocated to the Myer carpark on levels two and three, she said, and the centre had more than 130 disabled parking spaces, bringing it into line with relevant legislation.