Persecuted

By Jade Lawton
Ms Makings said she arrived at the station at 7.45 on Monday, 12 April to find the car park already at capacity. A $70 parking fine was on her windscreen when she returned from work.
“I parked on the nature strip so I wasn’t in the way of the bus – I thought I was doing everybody a favour,” she said.
Ms Makings said there was no signage informing commuters that the area was off limits, and she had since contested her fine with Cardinia Shire Council.
Liberal Candidate for Gembrook, Brad Battin, said Ms Makings’ fine was a symptom of the Brumby Government’s lack of planning in the growth corridor.
“With the station overflowing prior to 8am everyday, and the Berwick railway station already full daily, the Labor Government has again let down locals with band-aid solutions and no view to the future,” he said.
“There is a lack of public transport in the area to get to the railway stations, so driving is the only option for most travellers. If the Brumby Government fails to provide reliable and adequate buses then they must offer car parking facilities at the station.”
Mr Battin said he would have to discuss expansions with VicTrack, but guessed that about 50 extra car parks could be built on the vacant block next to the station car park – going some way to relieving the parking strain at Beaconsfield.
But in a response this week, a State Government spokesman said the Liberals had proved to be ‘ill-informed and lacking any vision of their own’ on transport.
“Mr Battin should be aware that the Minister opened the major expansion of the Berwick Station car park in February this year, bringing the car spaces to a total of almost 800,” he said.
“What Mr Battin and indeed the entire Liberal Party has failed to have done is tell us what the Opposition would do, instead opposing everything and standing for nothing.”
Cardinia Shire Council spokesman Paul Dunlop said parking on a nature strip was illegal under Victorian road laws, because of the potential for damage to water and gas supply lines.
“There is currently unrestricted parking close to Beaconsfield Station and we would ask commuters to park in appropriate areas. Having said that, council understands that car parking at the railway station does not meet existing demand and is continuing to advocate on this issue to the State Government,” he said.
“Cardinia strongly supports increased parking at Beaconsfield Train Station and has included improved car parking at Beaconsfield and Pakenham among our priority projects for State Government support.”
But Ms Makings said that in the meantime, commuters should be warned about the potential for fines on the nature strip.
“I suggest that a ‘no parking’ sign is erected to stop this being a revenue gaining exercise as there are many other commuters who park there,” she said.