Lygon Street traders reject parking meter plan May 25, 2006 By Rachel Kleinman May 25, 2006 THE AGE
Lygon Street traders reject parking meter plan
May 25, 2006
By Rachel Kleinman
May 25, 2006
THE AGE
A proposal for parking meters in Lygon Street would "handicap" traders in the Italian dining strip, restaurateurs say.
Melbourne City Council will suggest charging customers for street parking as part of today's proposed annual budget.
But restaurateurs such as Alan Watson, who owns Jimmy Watson's Wine Bar, said parking meters would be an unwelcome addition. "(The) street will be handicapped because, unless people can park close to where they want to eat, they will just go somewhere else," he said.
Several councillors told The Age they supported parking meters in Lygon Street because other strips, such as Errol Street in North Melbourne, already had them.
Cr Carl Jetter said restaurateurs and retailers always complained that business was bad.
"Just because they are complaining, it doesn't mean it is a bad idea," he said. "Why should Carlton be the exception to any other shopping strips?"
Carlton Business Association president Connie Paglianiti said the council had already failed to enforce a one-hour parking limit in the street. "I cannot see how parking meters will solve this problem except for generating revenue for the City of Melbourne," Ms Paglianiti wrote in a letter to the council.
The Age believes it would cost about $200,000 to install the meters, which would raise about $100,000 a year in revenue.
Plans to contribute up to $1 million to promote the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships have also proved controversial.
Cr Catherine Ng said there was no business case for ratepayers to subsidise the event, which will take place at the Rod Laver Arena next March.
"What do we get for this money? If we don't spend it, does that mean fewer people will turn up to the championships?" she said.
The city's budget is also expected to propose:
· Increasing rates by 3.8 per cent, in line with Lord Mayor John So's wishes and the CPI.
· Retrieving up to $4 million from the council's $244 million investment portfolio to buy a derelict heritage building in Queensberry Street from the State Government and convert it into a child-care centre.