New limits to stop commuters parking all day in Sunbury street

SUNBURY’S huge car parking problems are spreading as far as Pasley St with new four-hour limits proposed to deter rail commuters.

SUNBURY’S huge car parking problems are spreading as far as Pasley St where Hume Council is proposing new four-hour limits to deter train commuters monopolising the street.

Pasley St runs parallel to Horne St and is one of the nearest roads to the train station outside of the central business district.

Under the proposal, the west side of Pasley St between Gap Rd and Cornish St will be limited to four-hour parking between 9am and 5pm.

Council’s sustainable infrastructure director Peter Waite said investigations including consultation with residents had indicated widespread support for the measure.

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He said a letter outlining the proposed parking restriction and questionnaire was sent to all properties in the impacted part of the street.

“Of the responses the council received, more than 90 per cent of respondents were in favour of the proposal,” he said.

“Based on this response, we look to proceed with the proposed restriction.”

Mr Waite said the proposed restriction struck a balance.

“This will have the benefit of ensuring there is sufficient space available for residents and their visitors, who may need to come and go through the day and have been inconvenienced by the high level of all-day parking,” he said.

“However, it also recognises that there is a legitimate demand for all-day parking and would allow this to continue on one side of the street.”

Sunbury resident Steve Coughlan, who campaigned on the issue at last year’s council election, said it was clear the demand for parking by commuters would remain.

“Really after 6.45am there are no more parking near the station, so from then on you start seeing all-day parking spots fill up in places such as Pasley St,” he said.

Mr Coughlan said the rarity of parking spots in the city centre and existing constrictions such as the level crossing at Station Rd and upsurge in commuters travelling to and from Melbourne, meant it was essential for a parking masterplan for Sunbury to be developed.

“I think Hume Council, Public Transport Victoria and the State Government need to sit down and look at the issue as a whole,” he said.

“There has been a number of false starts in solving this issue, but as Sunbury grows it can’t be ignored.”

Sunbury councillor Jack Medcraft blamed Macedon Ranges-based commuters for denying Pasley St residents vital on street parking.

“Train commuters from the Macedon Ranges are now impacting on Pasley St residents who can’t even invite people to their homes because of the scarcity of parking,” he said.

“We also know some people parking have partially or fully blocked residents in — it’s understandably irritating residents.”