Dandenong South businesses on Fowler Rd and surrounding areas are suffering from a slash in 22 parking space as the level-crossing closure took full effect.
As a result of the closure, businesses on Nathan Road and Progress St are forced down the new Fowler Road bridge with an existing 38 active driveways, and onto South Gippsland Highway.
As part of the project’s final designs, Fowler Rd will receive new indented parking which is said to cause 22 reductions in carpark on Fowler Rd.
However, indented carpark along Fowler Rd was to increase the driveable width from 8 metres to 10 metres.
A Level Crossing Removal Project spokesperson has said the closure of the level-crossing “has improved safety and removed the risk of accidents between vehicles and trains.”
“In response to community and local business feedback, we’re building new indented parking on Fowler Road to increase road width and provide safer parking options for vehicles of all sizes.”
Currently, there’s a temporary commissioned building as a car park on 13 Fowler Rd with 67 spaces and despite that, some are forced to park nearby on Nathan Rd.
Colin Smith from JDN Monocrane on Nathan Road who operates oversized and over mass vehicles says he doesn’t blame the workers on Fowler Rd who are forced to park in front of his business.
He fears for what’s coming next once the temporary commissioned space is no longer upon completion of the indented parking.
“All the business on Fowler Rd is being trampled on because of this stupidity.
“Everyone parks on Nathan and do the walk of shame over the bridge to get to their work,” he said.
“I’m not blaming them; they have to do what they have to do-I’m blaming the LXRP who will walk away from this, patting themselves on the back and it’s not reasonable it’s been a terrible project.
“Conroy Removals are suffering because they can hardly get in and out of their business.”
Some of their largest vehicles have to cut the corner of their driveway onto the nature strip to avoid their vehicle clashing with the power pole on the opposite side of the street.
If cars park on either side, there’s no way JDN Monocrane vehicles can get out to carry their operations.
The matter was also brought to City of Greater Dandenong’s attention via public question time from Mr Smith on Monday 28 July.
He urged the council to alter the existing parking to only JDN Monocrane and Accredited Distributors (directly opposite to JDN) staff parking in front of the businesses.
He said it would permit them to contact its vehicle owners to clear the area when required.
Council’s city futures executive director Sanjay Manivasagasivam confirmed there are no changes proposed to the current parking arrangements and council’s transport team will contact Mr Smith to discuss options.
Businesses on Progress St, Fowler Rd and Nathan Rd had long protested against the state government’s plan saying it’s far more dangerous to force extra traffic of A and B Doubles, semi-trailers, trucks and vehicles down the narrow Fowler Rd, than the level-crossing itself.
Including Australia Post, Mr Smith is also part of the Community Liaison Group (CLG) who held meetings and discussions with the level-crossing project team and Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams but all to no avail.
According to Mr Smith, at a recent CLG meeting, the LXRP said the indented carpark would cause 22 space reductions and that they’ve conducted surveys confirming there’s enough space on Nathan Rd and Progress St.
“I’m preparing for the situation for the final conclusion to this because everyone will be going out via the bridge, everyone will be parking on Nathan Rd, 22 cars, its 132 metres of cars.
“They haven’t communicated this to any of the people on Nathan Rd, they’ve only done it through the CLG that we’re involved in and there’s six of us, including Australia Post.”
The Fowler Rd bridge opened to traffic in June. All the works will complete by the end of 2025.
