Hume City Council votes to build indented parking on narrow problem streets

HOMEOWNERS along crowded streets in Melbourne’s north are being asked to chip in $1000 to build parking bays outside their homes.

Langbourne Court in Greenvale has missed out on funding for indented parking this year.

RELIEF is in sight for motorists in Hume, forced to park on nature strips in narrow streets.

But for some it may come at a price, with the council proposing certain residents contribute $1000 to the cost of building individual parking bays outside their homes.

The council has adopted an official policy on parking in narrow streets, voting last week to spend $200,000 to construct half-indented parking bays in Winchester Way, Broadmeadows, McLaurin Ave in Roxburgh Park and Acland St, Craigieburn.

As part of the funding, $30,000 will also be spent on up to 10 individual parking bays in other streets depending on the space meeting the council’s criteria.

Homeowners who request individual parking bays at these extra locations will be asked to contribute $1000 for each space — which would remain available for general use — with the council funding the balance.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Would you pay $1000 to build a parking bay outside your home? Tell us below.

Under the new parking scheme, the council investigated parking demand along 38 roads, including 17 in Roxburgh Park, before deciding on streets for the half-indented parking.

Streets in Meadow Heights, Craigieburn, Sunbury, Broadmeadows, Jacana and Greenvale were also surveyed.

Nine were found to need indented parking — but two streets where drivers have been fined for parking on nature strips were not part of the study.

Within the past month, Leader has reported on drivers getting penalised for parking on nature strips in Nixon Court, Roxburgh Park and Langbourne Court, Greenvale.

RELATED: Hume Council fines people for parking on nature strip who say they have ‘nowhere else to park’.

Rachel Flavel, of Nixon Court, said she would have liked the street to be included in the council report.

“There is definitely room for indented parking which would be best,” she said.

Con Tzaros, from Langbourne Cres, said his street should have also been surveyed.

“If there are two cars parked on the street, then one person can only walk down the middle of the road — a car wouldn’t fit,” he said.

Hume councillor Adem Atmaca said many people blamed the council for allowing narrow roads to be developed, but it was the State Government which permitted this to happen.

“We’ve complained to the government many times,” he said. Mr Atmaca said nevertheless, the council was doing its best to address the issue and would no doubt eventually survey all problematic streets.