Nowhere to go: Jack Ogilvie and the Sunbury Business Association's Michael Barnard want the parking problem fixed. Picture: Matt Furneaux
A RENEWED push has been launched for a multi-level car park in Sunbury.
An angry Jacksons Creek ward councillor Jack Ogilvie said it was time the state government and Department of Transport put money towards increasing the number of parking spaces in the town.
As reported in the Weekly in December, the council and developer Sunbury Central Pty Ltd were unable to reach an agreement to develop a site on the corner of Evans and Station streets.
Extensive negotiations were undertaken between the council, the developer and Department of Transport.
Cr Ogilvie said the community had been let down by the government.
"The council and the developer were ready to go with the car park but were let down by the government not committing to it.
We [developer and the council] spoke with DoT numerous times over the past year and said that for the car park to go ahead DoT would need to contribute $3million.
"It was a joint solution to provide parking for commuters and shoppers, but they baulked at the idea. We would like the funding to be given now, but I'll be pushing council to try and get funding in the state budget."
Cr Ogilvie said V/Line and DoT were already taking parking spots along the rail line that were meant to be for shoppers.
He said the 106 spaces were on land which the Shire of Bulla purchased from the railyards in 1991.
"They are already taking up spots and I've been told that once the [rail] electrification project is completed they will take another 25 spots for drivers.
"We know once the electrification process is complete there will be more people wanting to park in Sunbury. Craigieburn [after its electrification project] was a disaster and Sunbury will be the same. The government needs to get fair dinkum [about increasing parking spots]."
Sunbury Central's Glenn Ingram also called on the government to provide more funding for parking in Sunbury.
"The community of Sunbury should not be placed in the position to fund the rail operator," he
said.
"Any other business which went to council would have to add more parking before having plans approved, under laws set by the government.
"But it seems like these laws don't apply to them [the government]; it's not fair."
Sunbury Business Association president Michael Osborne said the association was behind any push for more parking.
"It's important that parking facilities grow with any other growth in the town."
DoT spokeswoman Kellie Routledge said the proposed multi-level car park was a council initiative.
"Hume Council and the developer were unable to reach an agreement to develop this site.
The Department of Transport was not involved in the commercial negotiations for this development."