A split has emerged over plans for a multi-storey carpark in Yarraville with the proposal dividing traders, residents and Maribyrnong councillors.
Star Weekly last week reported Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach was pushing for a study into the viability of the proposal for the Vic Track-owned goods yard site next to the railway station.
A motion to pursue the plan narrowly scraped through 4-3 at last Tuesday night’s council meeting. The plan was supported by the independent councillors but opposed by Cr Sarah Carter and Yarraville ward’s Michael Clarke and Martin Zakharov.
The project is backed by the Yarraville Traders Association but has come under fire from a number of traders and residents.
In an email to councillors, the traders association indicated it “strongly supports” the investigation into expansion of parking spaces in and around the goods yard.
“We would strongly advocate for this open space to be taken away … as this space is currently extremely under-utilised,” the association said.
However, Yarraville Health Group owner Trevor Junge said the council was repeating its mishandling of the paid-parking issue by claiming a level of support for the multi-storey solution that didn’t exist.
“I speak with hundreds of people in my working week and I don’t ever remember hearing anyone talking about this as a solution,” he said. “It stinks of exactly the same thing as the paid parking. The overwhelming problem is this council doesn’t connect with the community.”
Iain Munro, who runs Yarraville cafes Cornershop and Wee Jeanie, raised concerns over increased traffic, loss of open space and a multi-storey carpark’s likely visual impact.
He welcomed the investigation of a new pedestrian railway crossing but questioned Yarraville’s suitability for extra carparking compared with other stations such as Newport.
Cr Zakharov slammed the plan as a waste of money, calling it a knee-jerk reaction to the outcry over the introduction of paid-parking.
“They are clutching at straws,” he said. “Every time you do one of these you lose open space.”
Residents have also raised concerns about the likely increase in traffic and impact on the heritage value of the goods yard area.
