“Fined for working”

Around 20 employees from businesses in Fishermans Bend staged a protest at the City of Port Phillip’s April 18 council meeting in response to proposed changes to car parking in the area.

Three separate petitions and a joint-letter were received and noted at the April 18 meeting, with protesters attending the meeting in t-shirts with the message “Fined for working by City of Port Phillip.”

It comes after the council engaged consultants last year to undertake parking surveys in the Sandridge Precinct of Fishermans Bend located between Williamstown Rd and the West Gate Freeway.

The report, tabled at a council meeting in June, found that a “significant proportion” of unrestricted parking sites in the area were being used by commuters arriving early on week days to park and walk into the city.

The report concluded that the introduction of paid and restricted parking would help to increase turnover and availability, but acknowledged that this was contrary to council’s policy that supported incremental change.

While the area is earmarked for urban renewal and subsequent population increases, businesses are concerned that planners are choosing to adopt parking restrictions ahead of the availability of public transport options.

Chair of the newly formed Fishermans Bend Business Forum (FBBF) Stephane Fayd’herbe said with proposed tram routes not due until 2023, businesses believed it was too early to be introducing restrictions and fees.

“Without a clear timetable for the Fishermans Bend light rail or heavy rail, diminishing parking used by local workers will only make the area less attractive for businesses to locate there or for those existing businesses to attract the best employees,” he said.

“What we are asking of council is to stick with its policy of incremental introduction of change in parking regimes that is in step with development in the area.”

City of Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss said all feedback on the proposed paid and timed parking would form part of a report on the issue, which would be considered at a council meeting in June.

However, she said continuing under current parking arrangements was not possible.

“Unlike the rest of Port Phillip, much of Fishermans Bend has been exempt from parking controls,” she said.

“With an increasing population (expected to reach 10,000 residents in Fishermans Bend by 2027) and employment base, this cannot continue as rising demand for parking will only intensify as the area further develops and residents and businesses may be expecting an unlimited supply of on-street parking.”

It is understood that the council would stand to gain $2.7 million per year should parking meters be introduced as proposed.