By Matthew Sims
Hobsons Bay has approved a proposal to introduce parking meters and other parking management changes at Altona Beach.
At its meeting on Tuesday, December 13, the council passed a motion to proceed with the works under the revised Altona Beach and surrounds Parking Management Strategy, note the findings of parking surveys and community consultation and investigate measures to address parking issues at the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre private car park.
Under the changes, Hobsons Bay residents who already hold valid parking permits would not require to pay to park along the Esplanade.
Hobsons Bay councillor Jonathon Marsden said the introduction would be a “big change” for the community.
“We want to get it right,” he said.
“We’ll continue to listen to resident feedback and make sure that any scheme we put in evolves over time to suit the needs and interests of people who live within Hobsons Bay.”
Paid parking would introduced along the Esplanade between Sarros Street and Millers Road, comprising of 195 spaces.
Cr Pamela Sutton-Legaud said council would aim to mitigate the impact the parking meters would have on pushing visitors to park on other streets to avoid the parking meters and motorists parking at the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre private car park.
Speaking against the motion, Cr Daria Kellander said community engagement resulted in 75 per cent of 463 Hobsons Bay online respondents to a question concerning their thoughts on the introduction of paid parking meters responded with mixed, neutral or negative comments, with 67 per cent being negative in nature.
“If council believes that this is in the best interest of the community and that it is of vital importance, then that’s not being reflected in the community feedback,” she said.
Cr Peter Hemphill said while the introduction of the meters represented a significant change for Altona and Seaholme residents, similar parking meters were also to be found across Port Phillip Bay and in Williamstown.
“There’s no reason why it can’t work in Altona,” he said.
“There’s no reason why Altona should be an exception.”
Five councillors voted in support of the motion, while Cr Kellander voted against the motion.
