DANDENONG
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Monday, 26 February, 2018
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100 not out
Friend Shyama reads a birthday card with Kusum. 177570 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
By Casey Neill "It feels like another day." But Thursday 22 February was anything but for Kusum Pethiyagoda. She celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at Viewhills Manor in Endeavour Hills. The centenarian followed her four sons to Australia from Sri Lanka in 1989. Ms Pethiyagoda lived in a flat in Dandenong before moving into Viewhills about 10 years ago. "She doesn't worry about anything and doesn't take anything too seriously," son Ranjan said. "It's nice to celebrate. "You don't celebrate 100th birthdays very often."
Price of parking By Casey Neill Little India traders say parking meters are costing them customers. But Greater Dandenong Council says the Foster Street paid parking is helping to meter demand. Foster Street Traders Association president Shahid Syed said it came into effect about 18 months ago. "The customers were very, very upset," he said. "They're not accustomed to bringing money with them. "We can't give the change for all of them. We have limited change."
The ticket machines also accept credit card payments, but Mr Syed said his customers didn't trust them. "If they come to my shop and there's some mistake they can fight with me, but they can't fight with the machine," he said. "We are losing customers. "People will end up shopping somewhere else." He's written to the council and local MPs asking for help to remove the meters. "The Springvale people, they fought," he said, referring to Springvale Asian Business Association's (SABA) successful campaign to remove parking meters there. "If they can do it there, why can't they do
it here? "It's only a small street here. "This should be exempt." Mr Syed, who's sold Indian clothing on Foster Street for 24 years, said the council had been very supportive of Little India. The State Government is transforming the strip into Victoria's first Indian cultural precinct. "The only thing we are not happy with is the meters," he said. "This is hurting us." Fellow trader Harry Singh said he had more customers over the Christmas period and attributed to the boost to the council's free parking offer.
"We're happy with the time limit," he said in reference to the two-hour cap. "But people don't like putting coins in." Greater Dandenong Council's engineering services director, Julie Reid, said Little India precinct parking was well-utilised. She said an occupancy survey from November last year identified the parking was between 75 and 85 per cent occupied between 10am and 2pm. "Parking meters are installed to assist with parking demand," Ms Reid said. "Data has identified parking in the area can experience periods of high demand, making it difficult for customers or visitors to find a space."
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