JANUARY 30, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
New plan for parking By Benjamin Millar Motorists who overstay parking time limits are at greater risk of being fined since Maribyrnong council installed parking sensors in Footscray CBD. The new regime comes as the council nears almost $8 million lost in parking meter revenue since a 2015 freeze in Footscray CBD and Yarraville, following fierce backlash by Yarraville traders to the introduction of paid parking. Yarraville Say No To Paid Parking convenor Megan Darling last week became a Maribyrnong councillor after being elected on a vote countback following Catherine Cumming’s move to the Victorian Parliament. The sensors, which cost $100,000 to install, are small battery operated devices installed beneath the parking bay. They record the arrival and departure time of vehicles, alerting parking officers to any vehicle over-staying.
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Market coup for Spotswood The Slow Food Farmers’ Market is moving to Spotswood Kingsville RSL after more than 11 years at Abbotsford Convent. Slow Food Melbourne president Alison Peake said the convent contract had been awarded to another operator, but fortunately talks had already been under way with the RSL about developing a “community food hub”. Ms Peake said the slow food movement was concerned with “caring for the planet and caring where your food comes from”. The market of up to 80 stalls will be on the RSL bowling green, carpark, memorial garden and surrounding council land. “We sell fruit, vegetables, meat, wine, biscuits, artisan products, olive oil, soap … you can do all your shopping from the farmers’ market,” Ms Peake said. “We’re actually the only Slow Food Farmers’ Market in Australia, so it’s a really good thing for the west. “It’s a perfect location. We’re close to local community in Spotswood, South Kingsville, but also close enough to Yarraville, Seddon, Newport. “It will literally become a local market – people will be able to walk and bike. It’s an easy location to get to.” The first market will be held on Saturday, February 23, from 8am-1pm. Entry fees, by gold coin donation, will go to the RSL.
Sensors provide information to help manage - Martin Zakharov parking
(Damjan Janevski)
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The technology is helping the council collect parking data to shape any decision as to whether parking meters are switched back on. Parking fees will only be considered once other restrictions have been applied and demand exceeds 85 per cent capacity. Maribyrnong mayor Martin Zakharov said the new parking sensors provide accurate information to help manage parking conditions and traffic flow in the area. “Sensors provide data 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing accurate analysis of parking trends,” he said. “This can result in changes to parking conditions which create efficient turnover of spaces and help increase parking availability for residents, businesses, shoppers and visitors.” The sensors are also likely to increase revenue to council coffers from parking fines. The council last year came under fire over its process of reviewing fines handed out to motorists. Victoria’s Ombudsman released a scathing report calling on the council to overhaul its infringement system, finding it had an unfairly rigid review process. Ombudsman Deborah Glass compared the council with five others and found its practices were lacking in fairness and discretion.
ALISON PEAKE
Goya Dmytryshchak