Banyule Council’s parking meter move around train stations slammed

PARKING meters will be installed around busy train stations in Melbourne’s north, sparking claims the council is using rail commuters as “convenient cash cows”.

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A SUBURBAN council has been slammed for using train commuters as “convenient cash cows” as it plans to install paid parking meters around bustling train stations.

Banyule Council is set to install parking meters at 290 car spaces in Greensborough, Montmorency, Macleod, Ivanhoe and Rosanna.

Initial parking fees will be $1 an hour and up to $3 a day — adding an extra weekly cost of $15 to a daily rail commute.

A pay-by-phone trial will also start in Poulter Avenue, Greensborough.

Residents Roger Fyfe, Anthony Hocking and Robyn Roberts attacked the proposal.

“All the areas considered are targeting all-day parking used by commuters. Council will inevitably put up the fees in future, realising commuters are convenient cash cows,” Mr Hocking said.

Ms Roberts urged the council to consider introducing a community bus to retail precincts and train stations, like the inner-south Port Phillip Council has done.

Banyule Council is introducing parking meters at 290 car spaces in Greensborough, Montmorency, Macleod, Ivanhoe and Rosanna. Picture Andrew Tauber

“When they (traffic department) think of these measures don’t actually go out and consult any real human beings before they do it. They do it on a desk,” she said.

But Cr Tom Melican said the public transport system should be based on people catching a bus to the station, not driving there.

“If you look at Macleod ... (it’s an) incredibly busy area and not one bus goes to that train station on the east side,” he said.

All councillors voted in favour of the parking meter decision.

According to a council report, notifications and consultation will take two months and will vary depending on impact in each suburb.

Banyule’s city development director Scott Walker stated during the April 9 council meeting that consultation would depend on the activity centre, location, type and extent of paid parking.

“There will be further consultation with traders’ associations where these paid parking is being introduced within the activities around the railway stations, where it doesn’t currently exist,” Mr Walker said.

“Other locations where it’s just a minor or small additions to existing paid parking schemes ... then there is a notification to the traders.”

The state opposition has pledged to spend $4 million building 150 car parks across Eltham, Montmorency and Greensborough train stations.

WHERE PARKING METERS WILL OPERATE

Greensborough

Diamond Creek Rd, between Plenty River Drive and St Helena Rd *

Main S, between St Helena Rd and Joyce Avenue *

Montmorency

Binns St, between Wellington St and Mountain View Rd

Macleod

Somers Avenue (east side), between Melrose Avenue and May St *

McNamara St, in front of non-residential properties between Cherry St and Dunstan St.

Aberdeen Rd (west side), between Erskine Rd and Carwarp St.

Erskine Rd (south side), between Birdwood Avenue and Aberdeen Rd.

Birdwood Avenue, between May St and Erskine Rd.

Ivanhoe

Norman St, between Waterdale Rd and Seddon St *

Waterdale Rd *

Rosanna

Ellesmere Pde, between Invermay Grove and Lower Plenty Rd *

Beetham Pde, between Hillside Rd and Prospect Rd *

De Winton Park *

*The council declared extensions consistent with existing hours of operation of parking restrictions in the area.