Volunteers fear for peoples' safety because of illegal parking at 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully

ILLEGAL parking around the 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully is an "accident waiting to happen".

John Fitz Patrick and Linda Nel

ILLEGAL parking around the 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully is an "accident waiting to happen".

Dandenong Ranges Visitor Centre volunteers Linda Nel and John Fitz Patrick have serious concerns about the danger that illegal parking around the Kokoda Memorial Steps is causing, with people walking across a busy section of Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd.

Mr Fitz Patrick said the traffic was often heavy driving past the national park and cars drove at high speeds down the hill.

"It's so dangerous and not pedestrian-friendly for people to be walking across the road," he said.

Since the Lyrebird Steps were opened at Kokoda Memorial Track in the last month, the lack of parking had gotten worse, Mr Fitz Patrick said.

Mrs Nel said people visited the park for picnics and barbecues, as well as for fitness, which added to the excessive parking needs.

"They are parking right up to the Devils Elbow and families with children are walking across that busy road," she said.

Belgrave Police Sergeant Mick Hall said illegal parking around the 1000 Steps was a serious problem.

"We do get complaints from passers-by about cars blocking the corner of the road," Sgt Hall said.

"It ... does create a visibility problem."

Dandenong Ranges National Park chief ranger Steve Pellen said traffic would be a major focus of a master planning process for the Ferntree Gully area.