Motorists reveal their biggest parking woes

A lack of free carparks near schools and train stations has outraged drivers in Melbourne’s southeast. See what other parking gripes made the list.

Drivers across Melbourne’s southeast have revealed their biggest parking gripes.

Furious drivers across Melbourne’s southeast have revealed their biggest parking gripes, with a lack of free carparks around schools and railway stations topping the list.

And councils are raking in millions of dollars from thousands of fines issued over the past two years, Leader can reveal.

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Here’s what motorists living in Kingston, Greater Dandenong and Casey told us when we asked them what parking issues infuriated them most:

KINGSTON

Kingston drivers say the city needs to urgently improve parking, with Main St, Bear St and the Woolworths carpark in Mordialloc among the biggest problem areas.

Readers also expressed frustration about finding a car park in Como Parade in Parkdale and at the Mordialloc train station.

Woolworths shopper Emily Cole said parking at the Mordialloc store was impossible.

“It was already bad before the new sports bar, now you can’t food shop until after hours at night to have any chance at parking,” Ms Cole said.

Linda O’Neill said overdevelopment was exacerbating problems.

“The council has allowed so many town house blocks in our area with insufficient parking to cater for the people who purchase them,” Ms O’Neill said.

Val Bletcher said areas within Mordialloc and Parkdale were a “nightmare”.

“Going to Woolworths is out of the question. Como Parade is a nightmare from beginning to end. I feel sorry to for residents and shop owners,” Ms Bletcher said.

Kingston Council issued 70,000 fines, totalling $6.8 million in the past two financial years.

In 2016-17, the largest number of fines were issued in Cheltenham and in 2017-18, Mordialloc.

Kingston general manager planning and development Jonathan Guttmann said traders, commercial and industrial businesses and residents constantly urged the council to thoroughly enforce parking restrictions to ensure turnover of spaces.

A lack of free carparks near schools and railway stations tops the list of parking gripes for drivers in Melbourne’s southeast.

Mr Guttmann said the council received most parking-related complaints about residential streets and a lack of car parks at train stations.
Mr Guttmann said people parking in front of driveways was also a common issue.

“Following the recent community consultation about parking in Kingston a report is scheduled to be presented at the April council meeting,” he said.

“The council has listened to residents’ complaints and has been working to address these issues recognising the challenges population growth brings.”

Mr Guttmann said Kingston’s retail shopping strips offer free on-street parking for one to two hours.

“With population growth an ongoing issue, we urge every member of the community to do their bit to reduce traffic congestion, by walking and catching public transport whenever possible.”

GREATER DANDENONG

Furious Greater Dandenong drivers have identified Dandenong Market, Dandenong railway station, Lonsdale and Thomas streets and Dandenong Hospital as problem carparking areas.

A council-owned “vacant carpark” raised the ire of several motorists, with one reader calling for a multi-level parking lot on the site.

Amanda Michelle said there was limited free parking throughout Dandenong.

“There’s nowhere near enough all day free parking near the library, station and government services office on Thomas St,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Dandenong is terrible to drive through and terrible for parking. I avoid the area now.”

Mel Mitchell said finding a carpark near Dandenong Market was “way too hard”.

“I don’t bother … I’m not going to spend time in the car doing laps of the CBD just to get there,” Ms Mitchell said.

Gerhard Vervoorst said he complained to the council about a vacant carpark near the market last month but hadn’t heard back.

“Parking in Dandenong is only for the privileged,” Mr Vervoorst said

“A permit can only be obtained if you work for the council.”

The Leader can also reveal the council receives about 4500 inquiries regarding parking each year, with matters including parking restrictions and enforcement, faulty ticket machines, permit inquiries and damaged or missing parking signs.

Greater Dandenong city planning, design and amenity director Jody Bosman said parking inquiries mostly involved areas such as Dandenong, Springvale and Noble Park.

Mr Bosman said people also contacted the council about parking areas near train stations and in residential streets near high density development and schools.

“The council regularly consults with the community about parking needs as part of its regular reviews of carparking needs,” Mr Bosman said.

He said the vacant carpark near Dandenong Market was not of a suitable standard to be used by shoppers.

“The works required to upgrade the carpark will be assessed, along with other projects, to determine the best use of council funds,” he said.

CASEY

Casey drivers have pinpointed railway stations, Cranbourne East Primary School, Centrelink Cranbourne and Kangan Dr, Berwick as their region’s biggest carparking problem areas.

Yogi Singh said parking near Cranbourne East primary and secondary college was scarce.

“There is a whole street marked with no parking or stopping during school hours, not enough parking around the school area — parents park some three or four streets away,” he said.

Sarah Armstrong said it was too congested in surrounding streets near the Cranbourne railway station.

“Cars are parked on both sides and park right near the driveway, and it’s hard get out without hitting them,” she said.

Casey acting manager city design and construction Michael Enright said the council was continually investigating options to address parking concerns in the community.

“This includes parking restrictions in local streets to improve traffic flow during peak periods,
putting in place short-term parking restrictions as required to improve visitor parking opportunities and undertaking parking enforcement when necessary to address operational and safety concerns,” he said.

Casey Council issued 6342 parking fines totalling $736,585 in the past year.

Mr Enright said the council found parking overflowing onto local streets was most common near railway stations, schools, activity centres and hospitals.