The recent announcement by Josh Frydenberg (Age 3/3/22) to abandon his ill-considered $65 million funding for railway station car parks in Kooyong is welcome.
These very expensive "car parks for votes" would have increased traffic congestion and pollution in local streets.
This allocation of funds, which has become known as Carpark Rorts, has been criticised by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) for not being effective or merit-based,
Many local residents oppose these car parks for the following reasons:
- Increased traffic congestion to and around the carparks - up to 800 additional cars per day - with increased pollution from carbon emissions
- Reduced safety due to increased traffic in suburban streets
- Limited parking spaces for locals - most spaces would be occupied all day
- No provision in draft plans for bicycle parking - one car parking space can provide parking for ten bicycles
- Use of council land some distance from the railway stations, instead of using existing railway station carparks
To date, no federal funds have been allocated for building safe cycling infrastructure.
The $65 million would be much better spent building the Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail strategic cycling corridor to provide safe, healthy, car-free, climate-friendly pedestrian and bike transport through the Kooyong electorate.
Every trip on a bike is one less car on the roads.
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| Liddiard St car park (proposed) |
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| Wattle Valley Road car park (proposed) |
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| Protest signs in Liddiard St |
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| Protest sign in Liddiard St |
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| Protest flyer |
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| Site of proposed car park in Liddiard St |
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| Protest sign in Wattle Valley Road |
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| Existing car park off Wattle Valley Road |
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| Existing Canterbury Station car park |
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| Location of proposed Liddiard St car park |
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| Location of proposed Wattle Valley Rd car park |
