Shoppers back calls by traders and Monash Council to improve Kingsway

Monash Leader readers rate dirtiness, a lack of diversity and parking as the biggest issues facing Glen Waverley shopping strip Kingsway.

Shoppers say that a ‘tired’ Kingsway needs to be upgraded. Picture: Andy Brownbill

It seems there is a consensus — Monash Leader readers agree with what traders and Monash Council are saying: that Kingsway needs an upgrade.

The Glen Waverley Traders Association called on Monash Council and its fellow businesses to “lift their game” and improve Kingsway’s presentation.

A common theme was the general dirtiness of the strip, while others called for greater diversity and focused on the area’s most common problem — parking.

Monash Leader readers think that Kingsway looks tired. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Patricia Johan wrote that Kingsway was “now unpleasant to walk down, dirty and grotty”, while Barry Cross wrote that it certainly needed “a lot of work”.

“Fixing the traffic flow issues, inadequate parking and over drabness of the area will take good planning and money but it could be so worth it,” he said.

“I avoid going there unless I have to because it’s such a hassle to get around and to park.”

Vince Marandola described the shopping strip as once “vibrant” and multicultural, yet it had “lost its culture” with “little diversity”.

One reader thought Kingsway could become something similar to Eaton Mall in Oakleigh. Picture: Josie Hayden

Sabrina de Kauwe-Samaranayake said it was “very drab, tired and old”, while the carparking was “just ridiculous”.

“No greenery, shabby old tables and chairs and very dirty,” she said.

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Murray Nicholas suggested removing all car traffic between the Bogong Ave roundabout and Coleman Parade, making it comparable to the likes of Eaton Mall in Oakleigh, Ozone in Knox or Town Square at Eastland.

“Drivers would no longer be frustrated … as they crawl along in a cloud of exhaust, or double park blocking other crawlers, trying to find the non-existent parking space,” he wrote.

Monash Council listed many things it is doing at Kingsway, including pruning vegetation, introducing some planter boxes, looking at more street-level lighting and have repainted some light poles.