Free public parking in Sunshine must be preserved as it becomes harder for residents to find a space in the CBD, a bloc of community groups has told Brimbank council.
But the Sunshine Business Association (SBA) wants tighter restrictions on inner-city parking to ensure commuters don’t displace shoppers.
The bloc, including representatives of Save Sunshine Pool and Sunshine West Action Group, has called on the council to ensure Sunshine Leisure Centre patrons have access to free, non-time-limited car parking.
John Hedditch, spokesman for the bloc of community groups and a council candidate for Harvester ward, said: “Residents and ratepayers are being inconvenienced by the shortage of car parking in Sunshine.
“The residents and ratepayers of Sunshine and Brimbank, as well as leisure centre users, are being screwed by these organisations [VicRoads, Public Transport Victoria, and Marketplace] not paying their fair share,” he said.
“An accessible, affordable and enjoyable visit to Sunshine Leisure Centre is becoming a hot issue as the multi-deck carpark and parking fees cut in.”
This year has been one of massive change for public parking in Sunshine.
Spaces have been reduced near the leisure centre as works are completed on the council’s new $9.3 million multi-deck carpark between George and Dawson streets.
Due to open next month, this carpark will provide free parking for the first two hours and have 248 spaces for council staff and tenants, and 113 for the public.
Ninety car spaces will be lost through the building of a new VicRoads regional office in the CBD, while Sunshine Plaza is believed to be implementing one-hour parking restrictions in its upstairs carpark.
The council has said it may also introduce paid parking on inner Sunshine streets.
However, businesses and their customers are disadvantaged by commuters parking all day in public spaces, the Sunshine Business Association says.
Its president, Carson Luk, said increasing the number of hours of free parking in the new multideck carpark was an option.
“The SBA is not opposed to paid parking in the new multi-deck carpark as long as the first two or three hours are free,” Mr Luk said.
