Peeved at parking Author: DAMON CRONSHAW - LAKE MACQUARIE Publication: Newcastle Herald
RESIDENTIAL streets around Charlestown Square have become clogged with parked cars since work began on the shopping centre redevelopment this week, residents say.
Neville Hartnett, of Patricia Avenue, said shopping centre staff appeared to own many of the parked cars.
Mr Hartnett said people were parking in front of garbage bins due to be emptied.
The parked cars created danger for residents because their sight was obscured when trying to drive from their driveways on to the road, Mr Hartnett said.
A Lake Macquarie City Council spokeswoman said cars could park on the street, "as long as they are parked legally".
Charlestown Square general manager Peter Francis said the shopping centre had "provided retailers with interim off-site parking at Charlestown Oval".
Charlestown resident Lydia Macokatic claimed vehicles were disrupting early morning walkers at the oval and an elderly woman was almost run over yesterday.
"We were promised to have that bit of oval to walk on for recreation and public use," she said.
The council spokeswoman confirmed the oval had been leased to the shopping centre for eight weeks from February 4 to March 30.
The shopping centre's southern car park is to be reduced from 1230 spaces to 637 spaces this month, as demolition work occurs.
Shopping centre owner General Property Trust is planning to build a 284-space temporary car park on an old Charlestown school site opposite the current Charlestown Public School for staff.
But opposition from the school and heritage concerns have delayed the plan.
The council spokeswoman said the council hoped to determine the plan by the end of the month.