By Bonny Burrows
Cardinia Shire Council has taken the first steps to improving car parking in booming Beaconsfield.
At 20 March’s council meeting, councillors adopted the Beaconsfield Car Parking Precinct Plan to identify parking shortfalls and impacts on congestion within the town’s central business district.
Parking has been a hot topic with locals and visitors and many residents have complained to the Gazette in recent years about limited availability.
At the council meeting councillors also shared their frustrations, highlighting the importance of the plan.
Ranges Ward councillor Leticia Wilmot spoke of preferring to “stop, start” on the Monash Freeway during school pick up periods rather than braving the Beaconsfield CBD, while mayor and Beaconsfield resident Brett Owen said the town’s traffic was something he dealt with regularly.
“At 7.30am the train carpark is full… residential streets off Railway Avenue are jam packed with cars,” councillor Owen said.
The parking plan, which was compiled taking into account 32 resident submissions, looks at the town’s major developments and whether the current parking facilities are adequate.
It highlights shortfalls in some areas, particularly outside the town’s schools and the railway station, and contains recommendations including a push towards public transport use and the possibility of car parking at land on the corner of Sylvia Road and Kathleen Court.
However, Cr Owen said there was only so much the council could do.
“It’s a good plan but we have some challenges. Council can only do what they can on their own land,” Cr Owen said.
“We also rely on business owners to improve car parking.”
Local schools are collaborating with the council to improve parking in surrounding streets while the council has also called on Woolworths Beaconsfield to make changes.
“We understand they have a plan and we are optimistic they will deliver,” Cr Owen said.
A spokesperson for Woolworths said the supermarket giant was a tenant at the Sylvia Road site but was aware of the parking problems.
“We acknowledge car parking around the Beaconsfield activity centre is challenging and are interested in working alongside relevant stakeholders to evaluate how this amenity can be improved for our customers,” the spokesperson said.
The council also called upon road authority VicRoads to assist with implementing possible solutions.
A spokesperson for VicRoads said the introduction and management of parking restrictions was the responsibility of the council, but “in light of this, VicRoads is happy to collaborate with council to help address any congestion and parking issues in the area”.
