Parking meters in Footscray and Yarraville will remain switched off for at least another month as Maribyrnong council seeks feedback on a new draft parking policy.
But the policy is already under fire from two councillors who say it’s being rushed and lacks sufficient detail.
Chief executive Stephen Wall last week presented a draft Destination Parking Management Policy to councillors.
The policy is 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 suspension of meters is likely to strip 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.
Cr Martin Zakharov said the idea of a Maribyrnong-wide policy had the support of Yarraville residents and businesses who had fought the introduction of parking meters. Cr Michael Clarke said the policy would introduce reason and logic and end “armchair conjecture” and “ad hoc” decision making.
“We have a framework for moving forward as a way of managing what will be a significant issue,” he said.
‘Lack of focus’
But Cr Grant Miles said the draft policy failed to address the challenges of parking management for coming years.
He criticised a lack of focus on encouraging people to use other methods of transport and said more time was needed for community feedback.
“I have looked at a lot of other inner- Melbourne policies and they are extremely comprehensive policies. They go into a lot of detail,” he said.
“I just don’t find enough detail in this policy to put it forward.”
Cr Nam Quach said the draft policy was based on sound principles but was more of a “discussion paper”.
Consultation closes on April 5 before a revised policy goes before council’s April 16 meeting.
Details: maribyrnong.engagementhq.com
