Close to 1000 people turned out on Saturday to march in protest against the introduction of paid parking in Seddon and Yarraville.
The march from Yarraville to Seddon follows a comprehensive survey on paid parking, which found the introduction of parking fees would heavily impact on Yarraville and Seddon traders.
The Yarraville & Seddon Villages Paid Parking Business Impact Study, undertaken by University of Melbourne researcher and Yarraville resident Dr Gary Au, received 1495 submissions and has been presented to the council along with a 3146-signature petition opposing paid parking.
The independent survey was launched in response to traders’ concerns that Maribyrnong council would introduce paid parking without properly determining its likely impact.
The study found only 1.2 per cent of people would pay for parking in Yarraville and 0.9 per cent would in Seddon.
The remainder intended to shop instead at Williamstown Road Coles (21.5%), Highpoint (14.3%) or Altona Gate (11.2%).
Others would continue shopping at Yarraville Village (15.7%) or Seddon (12.1%), or would park further away to avoid the parking fees.
Some respondents – 43-45% in Yarraville and 32-34% in Seddon – also indicated paid parking would reduce their regular and discretionary spending in the suburbs.
Maribyrnong council’s own community survey received 1711 submissions.
Megan Darling, one of the organisers of Saturday’s protest march, said the large turnout and the results of the independent survey should make it impossible for the council to introduce paid parking.
“We have put in a lot of effort to resist this ridiculous proposal; this is the council’s job and their responsibility to get this feedback. We just hope they are actually listening to people.”
A decision on introducing paid parking in Yarraville and Seddon and its expansion in Footscray is due to be made next Tuesday night.
