Shire to consider reverting parking restrictions

BUSINESS owners in Marine Parade, San Remo are hoping that Bass Coast Shire will amend parking restrictions after their August 17 meeting, as the two-hour limits are resulting in fines for employees. 

A petition was submitted to council on May 18, 2022, with the request to change the current parking restrictions at the end of Marine Pde San Remo. 

The main parking in question is located between Bergin Grove and Back Beach Road. 

Local business owner Floss Gorsuch has discussed the issue with the trader’s association and is asking council to reinstate all day parking from Bergin Grove. 

“Right now, the all-day parallel parking on Marine Pde from Wynne Road to Bergin Grove is full and the limited amount of parking pushes business owners to the south side, resulting in customers and employees having to move their vehicles every two hours,” said Floss. 

“The issue is that the two-hour parking on the south side is majorly empty during the day, so why can’t we have all day parking down this side to limit the fines being placed on business owners and their employees.” 

Owners of the San Remo Post office, Khyati and Deepak have seen a congestion issue down the busy main street of Wynne Road; a narrow street that is an access road to the San Remo Kindergarten, San Remo Primary School and the recreation reserve. 
“There is also no parking allowed at the entrance of Wynne Road, directly adjacent to the post office boxes, therefore residents aren’t able to stop in quickly and get their mail because Wynne Road is so congested,” said Khyati. 
“As a result of the two-hour parking, business owners are parking down this street in all day parking in front of homes and limiting space in and out of driveways and causing congestion down the small narrow street.”
“We understand the council have made the recent changes to the parking, especially the east end of Marine Pde with good intentions in mind but it has in fact created far more problems than it was to solve,” said Floss. 
“Working in the street every day, we should have been given the opportunity to have a consultation with council on what would work and what wouldn’t,’ said Floss.
“The restrictions have also created a problem in Back Beach Road, which didn’t exist before, because the parking spaces in this area are private land and this causes confusion for the public.”
Bass Coast Shire Council noted at the August 17 meeting that they support the recommendation and acknowledged that all San Remo traders are working towards what is best for the town.
The matter will be re-addressed before December 2022. 
Cr Bruce Kent said council officers will look at these issues with an open mind, and looks forward to any positive outcome.
Floss said there was never a need for restrictions at that end of town and the noticeable change since the restrictions has been negative, creating far more congestion in the smaller side streets.