Wantirna Mall: pay parking may be introduced because of people avoiding fees at Knox hospital

SHOPPERS at a Wantirna mall may soon have to pay for parking, because spaces are being hogged by people avoiding the hefty fees at a nearby private hospital.

Knox Private Hospital visitors are clogging up the Wantirna Mall carpark to avoid having to pay for parking. Picture: Josie Hayden

VISITORS dodging hefty parking fees at Knox Private Hospital are hogging spots at Wantirna Mall.

Knox Council is considering tighter restrictions at the shopping centre, with Mayor Darren Pearce saying it was a “social problem” that people did not want to pay for parking.

Knox Private will have over 500 beds after its $180 million expansion

HAVE YOUR SAY: Would you be willing to pay for parking at Wantirna Mall? Tell us below

The hospital charges $7 for parking for more than 30 minutes, up to $12 a day.

The mall’s carpark over the road is free, with bays restricted to one, two and four-hour parking.

As part of the council’s draft car parking review, Cr Pearce said it would look at the mall as a “priority”.

The council is considering restrictions at the mall to tackle the problem. Picture: Josie Hayden

He said spaces were being used by people who were not shopping there.

“We’ve got a social problem — people don’t want to pay for parking,” Cr Pearce said at a recent council meeting.

Cr Pearce told the Leader the solution could involve meters, more patrols, or technology such as in-ground sensors.

“We need to assess the most appropriate option for that area,” he said.

“We must ensure it doesn’t impact on the business viability of the shopping centre.”

Traders welcomed a review, but most who spoke to the Leader said they opposed parking meters.

King Bean Cafe owner Caroline McDonald said parking had been an issue for years.

“Certainly people get angry at the fact that it’s supposed to be for our customers,” she said.

“Sometimes the carpark’s full and you look around and there’s hardly anyone shopping.”

Knox Private Hospital spokeswoman Megan Edwards said the hospital charged “a reasonable car parking fee”.

The health and mall precinct in Wantirna was listed as one of the first areas in Knox that would have a parking management plan put in place as part of the council’s review.

The draft policy can be viewed at knox.vic.gov.au or at the council’s Civic Centre in Burwood Highway, Wantirna South, with submissions open until the end of August.