By Ewen McRae
Hundreds of car park spaces in the Melton town centre are set for increased time limits, under a push from the council to boost business.
The council is recommending the changes based on a public car parking study that reviewed parking demand and patterns in the business area surrounding High Street, between Station Road and Yuille Street.
The study found that the current number of public parking spaces in the area met the need during the peak demand, but that more of the spaces needed to change to four-hour spaces.
The council is proposing to change the time limits of 266 parking spaces from two hours to four hours, 90 spaces from unrestricted to four hours, and three two-hour spaces to two disabled car parks.
Melton mayor Lara Carli said the proposed changes were designed to increase business in the town centre, as well as keep up with future growth.
“Many people tend to visit the area for a few hours at a time and we want to ensure that the car parking time limits cater to their needs,” Cr Carli said.
“By adapting to the way the parking is used, we can make it easier for our community to make the most of the shops, eateries and services in the area.
“We’d like to hear from anyone who uses this car parking about whether they support the proposed changes. Your feedback will help inform council’s final decision on the proposed changes.”
A previous study on public car parking in Melton – completed in June 2019 – found that the peak occupancy rate of spaces was 66 per cent, and rejected a push for multi-storey parking in the area.
“The study concluded that there is sufficient parking within the Melton township as a whole to meet the current peak parking demands,” the officers report stated.
To view the proposed changes to Melton town centre parking visit visit melton.vic.gov.au/MTCParking
