Eleanor Street residents have vowed to keep up their fight against an expected 1000 extra car trips a day in their street when a new car park opens for the Western Hospital.
Hong Chai, who has lived with her family for 15 years next door to what will become the car park entrance, fears being subjected to round-the-clock traffic outside her home when the car park opens next month.
“You can imagine the pollution from the cars, toxic fumes, lights shining into our windows, noise from the engines,” she said.
“We won’t be able to leave our doors or windows open. I just feel powerless. It’s just so stressful and scary. Our dream is shattered.”
Mrs Chai echoed the calls of other residents and of St John’s Catholic School for relocating access to the car park through the hospital’s adjoining car park on Gordon Street.
Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming said Western Health had been intractable on that front, leaving the council no alternative but to provide access via Eleanor Street.
Cr Cumming said the project would, however, take pressure off parking in surrounding streets. “It benefits the hospital but is important for the whole precinct.”
Council infrastructure and engineering director Ian Butterworth said the council planned to continue with the Eleanor Street entrance. He said an additional 1000 movements would add only about 15 per cent to traffic, and Eleanor Street had the capacity to carry 5000 cars a day.
Council communications manager Morris Bellamy said the council recognised consultation “has not been as good as it could be”. “In terms of a solution for this precinct, we have a viable and a good solution here and we’re determined to make this work well.”
