Star News reports on "Access Furore"

Media coverage of the issue is continuing with an article in today's local Star News. The article, Access Furore, gives voice to some of our concerns and it is promising to see these being shared with the wider community through the media. The article can be read below or by following the link.

Access furore
01 October 2013

By Charlene Macaulay

CONCERNED Eleanor Street residents are desperately trying to halt a proposed access route to the new hospital precinct car park.
The 282-space car park, due to be completed in November, will now have only one access point via 41 Eleanor St.
Residents were first notified about the access point in a letter sent out on 20 August. The letter advised that construction on the block of land would begin the following week.
Local residents, together with staff from St John’s Primary School, have since held multiple meetings with the council to request an alternative access point.
They are concerned about the heightened traffic conditions and safety for school children.
Eleanor St resident Karastar Tuddin said her neighbours were disappointed and angry at the lack of consultation about the works.
“They’ve always intended to have a new hospital car park which is true, but we didn’t know that Eleanor St would be where the entry and exit points would be,” Ms Tuddin said.
“Some residents haven’t been consulted at all still, except from our residents’ action group.
“Our ultimate goal would be to have access and exit not form Eleanor St but from Gordon St into the new car park, it just makes so much more sense.”
Resident Jessica Cubias is doubtful that the council will budge on the issue.
Ms Cubias lives next door to the block of land in question with her mum and brother and said the family was blind-sided when it discovered Maribyrnong City Council’s plans for the site.
“It’s quite a shock,” she said. “(The council) will only consult on high fences and noise reduction – they’re not going to negotiate putting the access way anywhere else.
“For residents, it’s just impractical. The parking situation is already bad enough.”
Previously, council vehicles accessed the former depot via Southampton St, but Mayor Catherine Cumming said the car park would turn Southampton St into a thoroughfare at the expense of residents.
Council strategic marketing manager Morris Bellamy said the council had also done consultation with other residential streets because the original plan had been to access the car park via a major street such as Gordon St.
This option didn’t go ahead after negotiations with Western Hospital stalled.
In a media briefing last week, Cr Cumming conceded the lack of consultation with Eleanor St residents was an “oversight”.
“We’ve looked at all the different access points, so every time we’ve informed the residents about trying to access the car park, they would know that it’s going to come from one of (the surrounding streets),” she said.
“If you lived in this area, every piece of land that touches this area is an access point.
“With hospital and medical services in the area continuing to expand, the car park will help alleviate the pressure, while allowing residents greater access to the streets.
“When the parking lot – aimed at hospital visitors – is open, the way vehicles move up and down Eleanor Street and its surrounds will change for the better.”
Residents have continued their campaign online at www.carparkcowboys.blogspot.com.au