IT has taken more than two years but more car parking spaces may soon be available at Parkdale train station.
Councillors at the Kingston Council public meeting last Monday (29 January) unanimously voted to push ahead with plans to revamp car parking spaces at the train station based on designs first drafted in September 2015.
A council officers’ report tabled at the council meeting noted: “At present, there is no formal commuter car parking at Parkdale Railway Station recognised by PTV (Public Transport Victoria) or Metro Trains.
“However, commuters have long been parking in informal angle car parks along both Como Parade East and Como Parade West. Estimates are that up to 45 vehicles are parked along Como Parade West and 20 vehicles parked along Como Parade East in these informal areas.
“Vehicles are also parked further along Como Parade East and West parallel to the kerb in areas outside these spots, although there is a mix of 4 and 6-hour car parking spaces along these roads closer to the centre to provide parking opportunities for traders and other longer-term users.”
Council will now write to PTV to request 50 spaces on Como Parade West and 35 on Como Parade East now pedestrian walkways and a nearby roundabout have been upgraded.
PTV and VicTrack previously nixed the formal train station car parking proposal citing concerns about pedestrian facilities.
“Parkdale Railway Station, like all our railway stations, suffers from a lack of parking,” Central ward councillor Geoff Gledhill said at the meeting.
“However, there is a fair amount of space, that if treated properly, we can retain all of the significant trees that are around there and provide much-needed parking for commuters and take some of the pressure off surrounding residential streets.”
Fellow Central ward councillor Rosemary West thanked council officers to redrafting the car parking design to save four trees from the chop.
“My feeling is that this parking space will be more pleasant and more useful to people with the trees to provide shade and there is some positive amenity in that.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 7 February 2018
