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Altona and Williamstown lifesavers to be issued parking permits after local uproar

Lifesavers from Altona and Williamstown will be able to freely park their cars at the beach after a local campaign won over Hobsons Bay Council.

Volunteer Lifesavers Peter Henry and daughter Alice, 19, are paying enormous parking fees whilst volunteering at Altona Beach. Picture: Mark Stewart
Volunteer Lifesavers Peter Henry and daughter Alice, 19, are paying enormous parking fees whilst volunteering at Altona Beach. Picture: Mark Stewart

Volunteer lifesavers at two popular beaches in Melbourne’s west will no longer need to pay for parking in what has been described as a major win for beach staff.

Lifesavers at Altona and Williamstown have breathed a sigh of relief after Hobsons Bay council voted in favour of issuing parking permits and expanding designated parking spaces on patrol days so they can keep their eyes on the water.

Hobsons Bay Council will provide 10 parking permits at both beaches and provide an additional six parking spots nearby the clubhouses, which have four already.

Volunteer Lifesavers Peter Henry and daughter Alice, 19, are paying enormous parking fees while volunteering at Altona Beach. Picture: Mark Stewart
Volunteer Lifesavers Peter Henry and daughter Alice, 19, are paying enormous parking fees while volunteering at Altona Beach. Picture: Mark Stewart

It comes after the Herald Sun exclusively revealed lifesavers had resigned or vowed not to patrol until the issue was resolved as they faced paying more than $50 per day and multiple car relocations just to do their job.

Hobsons Bay councillor Daria Kellander said “common sense” had prevailed.

“This is a win for beach safety, for our volunteer lifeguards, our community, and visitors to our beaches.”

Signage is expected to be erected before Christmas which will alert visitors of the allocated parking spaces which will be operational on weekends and public holidays, during patrol hours.

The Altona Lifesaving Club will be provided with a further six parking spaces in the nearby

Weaver Reserve car park, in addition to the four spaces it has on Council’s lifesaving club

site.

The Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club will be provided an additional six

parking spaces near the four already allocated to it in the lifesaving club car park

The decision comes after the council approved a recommendation regarding parking exemptions at the Tuesday night meeting.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/altona-and-williamstown-lifesavers-to-be-issued-parking-permits-after-local-uproar/news-story/0264569ac314184aef3e13da9facb31f