Efforts to end Maribyrnong Council’s long-running paid parking saga have been dealt a blow with councillors rejecting a new parking policy.
The decision means it will be at least three months before the a redrawn policy will again be considered and makes it increasingly unlikely parking meters in Footscray and Yarraville will be switched on before the October 22 local government election.
A Destination Parking Management Policy, drawn up by council staff to guide future parking needs across Maribyrnong, was voted down at Tuesday night’s City Development Special Committee meeting.
A vote on accepting the policy was tied three-all before committee chair, Councillor Nam Quach, used his casting vote to reject the policy.
Councillors Quach, Grant Miles and Catherine Cumming had criticised the policy for being vague and lacking in detail, while Crs Cameron McDonald, Martin Zakharov and Michael Clarke had spoken in support. Cr Sarah Carter was absent.
The policy was developed in response to the switching off last December of parking meters in central Footscray and Yarraville village in the face of a widespread public backlash.
The paid parking suspension is stripping more than $1 million from council coffers.
The policy recommends the preparation of local activity centre reports, reviewed every five years, as well as “triggers” to review parking controls that would seek feedback from residents and traders.
Yarraville and Footscray would be the first areas to be considered, followed by other centres across Maribyrnong.
Councillors last month voted to send the draft policy out for public feedback.
Responses were overwhelmingly negative, criticism suggesting the policy was “meaningless” and lacking in rigour.
Cr Quach said he agreed with the criticism and couldn’t support the “underbaked” and “stunningly vague” policy in its current form.
“I think the intent of this motion is great and well supported by our entire council and community, but I struggle with the execution.”
Cr Cumming said more discussion was needed with neighbouring Council’s regarding what worked for them, while Cr Grant Miles said the policy had failed to reflect the changes he had sought when it was first presented in March.
Councillor McDonald argued in favour of adopting the policy as a way of increasing car-based turnover.
Cr Zakharov said the policy was way of coming to the end of the trouble caused by last year’s implementation of parking meters in Yarraville.
Cr Clarke said the call for greater detail in the policy failed to recognise its role.
“The whole idea of the policy is to give us a framework, it’s not supposed to be an operational plan.”
Footscray Asian Business Association president Wing La and African Australian Small Business Association president Mohamed Abdulrahman both welcomed the decision, arguing the policy was too broad and could be used to justify any decision.
