Echuca IGA’s Lance Mitchell calls for council to slash parking time limits

An Echuca businessman is making a unique request to see parking times reduced to ensure more people can quickly access the town’s only independent supermarket.

An Echuca businessman wishes to reduce some parking in front of his store from two hours to 30 minutes.

An Echuca businessman is calling for shorter parking limits — not longer — outside his shop and the unique proposal is gaining support from the community.

Instead of lengthening the times, the owner of the Echuca IGA is asking for three or four parks to be reduced from two hours to 30 minutes.

It comes after customer complaints about being unable to get a car park and some even choosing to keep driving and going to one of the chain supermarkets instead.

Echuca IGA owner Lance Mitchell said it was “heartbreaking” to hear stories of people choosing to shop somewhere else because of a lack of parking.

“We’re the only independent supermarket in Echuca and we want to be here for another 40 to 50 years and not be gone because we can’t get people into the store,” he said.

Mr Mitchell said the IGA was built to be a convenience store.

“We need people to be able to get in, get what they want and get back on the road again,” he said.

The owner of Echuca IGA wants parking limits in four parking bays revised for better access for customers.

“We could get quite a lot of traffic through in two hours if everyone is just ducking in and out.”

Mr Mitchell said about six months ago he approached the Campaspe Shire Council about a review into the parking times.

He said he had asked the council to increase inspections to make sure people were not overstaying the time limit.

Mr Mitchell created an online petition that has so far attracted almost 170 signatures as well as a paper petition in store with three A4 pages of signatures.

A council spokeswoman said applications for parking changes were assessed with consideration for all parking requirements of the surrounding area.

“A 30 minute restriction could prevent customers of multiple businesses from completing all transactions in that period,” she said.

The parking time limit in front of the Echuca IGA is two hours.

“Shopkeepers and their staff are discouraged from parking in timed parking bays at the front of their premises, thereby ensuring that parking spaces are available for shoppers and service users.”

The spokeswoman said parking was regularly patrolled on Haverfield St and across Echuca, but would consider increasing patrols to ensure parking remained fair and accessible.

She said the council was also replacing signs in the area to ensure the time limits were clear.

“We understand that individual businesses may have preferences regarding parking durations, however, parking regulations are designed to balance the needs of the broader community, including residents, visitors, and nearby facilities,’’ she said.

“It’s worth noting that recent observations show that, out of the 17 available bays, only four or five are typically occupied at any given time. This suggests that current arrangements are meeting general demand.”

The online petition is running through change.org.