Jennifer Pittorino
Altona residents have expressed their deep disapproval of new parking meters that have come to the Altona Esplanade.
President of the Altona Traders Village Association, Ilch Mickovski said we have struggled to see any benefits that can come from asking beachgoers to pay for their visits.
“We can’t understand or justify the parking meters , the Hobsons Bay community will not thrive or benefit from the introduction of paid parking on a beach that has previously been free,” he said.
As a resident of Hobsons Bay himself , Mr Mickovski said traders and the general community never agreed to the parking metres
“There was a petition created which had over 500 signatures on it expressing that the community did not want these parking metres enforced,” he said.
Councillor Daria Kellander was the only councillor on the Hobsons Bay council who voted against the parking metres standing with residents.
“Feedback from ratepayers indicated a lack of support for the proposal to install parking metres, the role of a Councillor is to represent the interests of ratepayers, and in doing so I voted against installing the parking metres,” she said.
The parking metres will come into effect on Monday, May 1, visitors parking in the 129 paid parking spots will be required to pay $4.80 per hour.
Mr Mickovski said that a turnover of cars would always be governed by the dedicated time displayed on signage without the need for car park meters.
“What we will see is that the parking meters will hurt potential revenue coming into in our local community,” he said.
