By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A commuter says she’s been driven away from taking the train to work due to a car-parking shortage at Berwick railway station.
After a fruitless search around the station’s car park and neighbouring streets for a spot from about 7.20am on 28 March, Danielle Soobaroyen said she called off going to work.
“There was just nothing there – unless I park 10 kilometres away.”
Days earlier, Ms Soobaroyen had received a $78 parking ticket from City of Casey for over-staying in a three-hour parking spot at Melville Park Drive while she worked in Melbourne’s CBD.
She insists she had only parked in the residential street out of desperation.
“Now, I cannot afford to go to work,” she said.
“I can’t afford to pay another fine.”
Ms Soobaroyen said she would have to park about 6.30am to assure herself of an all-day parking spot, but had children to organise and drop off at child-care.
Having commuted to the CBD for several years, she said the early-morning parking shortage had worsened in recent weeks.
“I just don’t think it’s right. It’s nearly causing me a panic attack.”
According to 2014 PTV data, nearly 2000 commuters use the station prior to 9.30am on weekdays.
About half of the station’s weekday commuters were driving their cars to get there.
On inspection on 28 March, cars are parked not only in every available parking bay at the railway station but also its garden beds and footpaths.
City of Casey transport strategic advisor Paul Hamilton said the council understood commuters’ frustrations, but had to consider the impact on surrounding residents’ amenity and access to nearby streets.
“Council manages this situation with a mixture of parking controls aimed at finding a balance between the needs of both commuters and residents.”
Mr Hamilton said the council would continue lobbying the State Government for better bus connections to the station.
“We encourage the community to also contact Public Transport Victoria and their local State Member for Parliament on transport issues to reinforce our message.”
A VicTrack spokesman said the car park had grown by 170 spaces in the past three years.
“A number of sites are currently being investigated for future station car park upgrades.”
