Maroondah Council agrees to investigate parking solutions in busy Croydon business hub

DESPERATE pleas for a multistorey carpark at a business hub in Melbourne’s outer east are gaining momentum after more than a thousand frustrated residents joined the fight.

Visitors to Croydon’s main street often struggle to find a park.

DESPERATE pleas for a multistorey carpark at Croydon’s hectic business hub are gaining momentum after more than a thousand frustrated residents joined the fight.

Croydon Traders Association has joined with commuters and shoppers to submit a 1100-signature petition to Maroondah Council and the State Government.

Croydon Main St traders call on Maroondah Council and Metro Trains to build multistorey park

They want a multistorey carpark built at the top end of the railway station near Devon St, to solve relentless traffic woes at the precinct.

It comes as a 14-space gravel carpark for Eastfield Shopping Centre was approved this week following a year-long fight from traders.

Eastfield Shopping Centre in Croydon South gets added parking after year-long trader campaign

Councillors unanimously passed a motion on Monday night agreeing to investigate a multistorey carpark at Croydon and other solutions to the parking problem. There was no debate.

Currently cars clog Hewish Rd and Kent Ave by 8am every day, leaving people to drive around the block several times just to find a space.

Association president Andrew King said it was great the council had recognised a need for more parking at the precinct and hoped works would progress.

He said a multistorey carpark would be expensive — costing about $80,000 per parking space — but “there was no alternative going forward”.

Croydon Traders Association president Andrew King with Renee Ralston, Bek Evers, and Mark Pullyblank. Picture: Steve Tanner

Short term solutions are also being looked at, he said.

“We need more all day parking without encroaching on what’s there already,” Mr King said.

“In the new year, we’re hoping to work with the council to make the best use of the space we already have and realign some of the restricted access parking to make more long term parking available.’

The council previously argued the proposed Croydon Activity Centre could boost the already 6500 car spaces in the precinct by joining Main St, Croydon Central and Croydon Station.

State Government spokesman Kosta Pandos did not respond to direct questions but said the government was “working to ease pressure across the network and make it easier for people to find a park or catch the train”.

The council has also been contacted for comment.