Eureka taxi jam

By David Schout

Scores of taxis are parking illegally outside Eureka Tower in what the City of Melbourne says is part of a “serious policy issue”.

A recent council survey reported as many as 36 cases of “illegal parking or bad behaviour” around Riverside Quay in a one-hour period on a weekday afternoon.

The taxi hotspot has long been a source of contention among local residents and workers, who have complained of extensive illegal parking and constant honking of horns.

In a meeting with key stakeholders, council’s manager of engineering services Jenny Bailey said the issue had been exacerbated by the surge in taxi licences that had come with ridesharing apps like Uber.

“The taxi rank here (outside Eureka) has been a problem for a long time that is getting worse and worse, and this problem is replicated throughout the city in terms of taxis consistently illegally parking in loading zones, and double parking,” she said.

In July, Southbank Local News reported of taxi overcrowding on Riverside Quay and even complete blocking of nearby Cook St.

Council enforcement officers and nearby workers have reported cases of verbal abuse from drivers.

“We’re dealing with an intractable problem here,” Bailey said.

“Everyone wants to drive their vehicles, and there just simply isn’t enough space to store them.”

The Eureka issue is part of a city-wide concern, solutions to which will involve the state government and a powerful taxi lobby group.

Eureka Tower general manager Antoinette Hall said she was pleased with the council’s proactive approach to the issue.

The council has said it will consider removing the rank altogether but not before further consultation.