By Brendan Rees
Casey residents can have their say on parking issues following the launch of a council survey.
The online questionnaire will be used to help the council form its parking strategy.
It will gauge residents’ opinion of “where they feel current parking is not serving their needs.”
It also asks residents if they support the use of parking technology including sensors and electronic signage.
The draft Parking Strategy will provide direction on how council oversees its parking supply and how technology such as the arrival of autonomous vehicles and ride share programs will impact on the demand for parking resources.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said the draft parking strategy would help shape the future of parking management within the municipality.
He said Casey had one of the highest rates of car ownership within metropolitan Melbourne with almost 65 per cent of Casey households owning two or more cars.
“Our estimated resident vehicle fleet will reach 216,000 by 2026,” he said.
“With the Casey population expected to reach over 500,000 by 2041, a shift in the way we think about and plan for parking is required to ensure we can provide a more equitable and liveable City for our residents.
“The draft Parking Strategy outlines considerations for the future of parking management and includes mechanisms that aim to manage parking more efficiently and provide optimal parking supply,” Cr Ablett said.
Narre Warren Business Group spokesman Dale Munckton said its members appreciated council recognising the on-going parking issues effecting businesses in the Verdun/Victor Crescent and Webb Street precincts.
“We look forward to working closely with council to ensure adequate parking is available for our members and businesses within the area. We encourage businesses to provide their feedback to Casey Council online,” he said.
Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association president Arvo Talvik said the draft parking strategy mentioned in several places about introducing ‘paid parking’ and questioned whether this was “A disguise for revenue raising.”
“This document does not detail how the strategy will become council policy or be implemented,” he said.
