Residents’ groups oppose federal government-funded station carparks in eastern suburbs

More parking spaces near train stations are usually welcomed by residents — except those in this leafy inner east suburb.

Render of proposed new multi-level carpark in Hawthorn near Glenferrie Station. Picture: City of Boroondara.

Local residents’ groups in the leafy eastern suburbs are fighting plans to build multi-level carparks funded by the federal government near rail stations.

Hundreds of extra car spaces will be created in existing carparks in areas including Hawthorn, Camberwell and Canterbury to provide park-and-ride and parking for local entertainment.

Boroondara Council would receive $45m for the three carparks under the government’s urban congestion fund, with the program criticised last year by the federal Auditor-General for targeting Coalition-held seats.

The carparks are within the seat of Kooyong held by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Render of proposed multi-level carpark near Glenferrie Station, Hawthorn. Picture: City of Boroondar

The Hawthorn proposal would see a 490-space multi-level carpark built in Liddiard Street, near Glenferrie Station.

Save Hawthorn Action Group co-convener Nancy Frawley, who lives opposite the site, said traffic congestion would worsen with the carpark accessed by narrow side streets.

“Liddiard St is a flood zone, and it’s already a high traffic street where kids go to school, and people bike ride, there’s lots of young families using it,” she said.

Ms Frawley said consultation on the project was rushed and not advertised properly.

“It was late December and January and the start of February when everyone was distracted by Christmas, and Omicron, and getting kids back to school,” she said.

“Trying to get all the details of the plan is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”

Similar concerns have been raised by the Wattle Valley Road Car Park Residents Group which opposes a new 200-space underground facility near Canterbury Station.

The proposal would keep the existing 85 spaces at ground level and possibly relocate some on-street spaces from the nearby historic Maling Road shopping village.

Render of the proposed carpark near Canterbury Station. Picture: City of Boroondara.

City of Boroondara got federal funding for feasibility works and public consultation started in mid-December.

The council’s director places and spaces Daniel Freer said due to the summer holidays, the consultation period had been extended to 10 February.

“Council has already received a large volume of surveys providing feedback across all three sites,” he said.

“Council will consider community feedback, project impacts and benefits before deciding whether to proceed with each project.”

Mr Freer said consultation involved printed, digital and face-to-face communications; such as letterbox drops to residents within a 500m radius, and posters around the precincts.

“Unfortunately, some of the printed items such as posters around Canterbury Station and Maling Rd were removed, with removals not authorised by council,” he said.

“Council has installed new replacement posters at the Wattle Valley Rd car park and on Maling Rd.”