Alexandra Falls
EVERYONE is capable of angst when it comes to finding that elusive car park, but nobody knows it better than Jenny Woods and Glenn Williams.
Each weekday, Donnybrook General Store owner Ms Woods and Donnybrook Hotel owner Mr Williams have their parking spaces clogged by commuters catching the train from Donnybrook Station.
The overflow from the station car parks leaves customers and the community nowhere to park.
Not surprising, since one customer has regularly counted more than 60 commuter cars parked outside of the station.
The problem also narrows the road and reduces safety for motorists and pedestrians, particularly as commuters rush to catch trains.
When Ms Woods bought the store 13 years ago, one advantage was good parking for trucks. However, most trucks are now unable to stop at the store because access is taken by daily commuters.
With quarries nearby, truck drivers are an important part of her business.
Access for locals to her postal service is also compromised, Ms Woods said.
Six months ago Mitchell Shire added a four-hour parking restriction to the area in front of the store, but Ms Woods said people often park and catch the 10am train to return at 2pm.
Ms Woods said space remaining around the restricted parking zone is still insufficient for most trucks, and the bus parking area is also often blocked.
Mr Williams has a large customer car park for hotel patrons and pays to have it resurfaced each year.
He said he doesn’t mind commuters parking, but most don’t ask permission and inconvenience his customers by taking the closest spots.
Mr Williams said people have parked in front of his skip, making rubbish collection impossible, and blocked access for his suppliers.
At his own cost Mr Williams has installed signs warning people not to park, but commuters ignore them.
Both proprietors say that despite the heavy traffic, little to no profit is being made from daily commuters.
“It’s the occasional paper at most; people are too busy getting to and from the station to stop in,” said Ms Woods.
Both say they now go out when the trains arrive to ask motorists to park elsewhere.
“But you get rid of someone and there’s someone else in their spot the next day,” Mr Williams said.
Ms Woods and Mr Williams said a two-hour council parking restriction on the main road would help.
However, as Donnybrook is pegged as a major growth corridor, the problem of where commuters can park remains.
Member for Yan Yean, Danielle Green, and Shadow Minister for Transport, Fiona Richardson, visited Ms Wood last Tuesday to offer support.
Ms Green said Labor last year promised $1 million to increase car parking at the station if elected but the Liberal party failed to match this.
“It was obvious to Fiona and myself that the community is very concerned about parking problems and there has been a failure to act,” Ms Green said.
Ms Green said she will contact the council and support the community campaign for better car parking facilities at the station.
Ms Richardson described the station’s parking area as “appalling”.
