By Laura Michell
Hume council will lobby the state government for funding to include commuter car parking at a new multi-level carpark on the site of Broadmeadows’ loop road.
Cr Naim Kurt raised a notice of motion at the council’s last meeting for 2020, asking council to advocate for government funding from the Commuter Carpark Fund for the project.
He also urged the council to investigate “innovative” options to make the undercover space adaptable to host events or services, as well as options to retain the existing loop road in the final design.
Cr Kurt’s notice of motion followed calls from the Broadmeadows Progress Association for the road – which links Pascoe Vale and Camp roads – to be retained.
The council signed a memorandum of understanding with VicRoads last year to purchase the loop site for the carpark.
The loop was officially closed in November and VicRoads is in the process of decommissioning the site.
Cr Kurt said some community members believed the council was unilaterally closing the loop road to build parking for staff and that the community would not benefit from the carpark.
He said residents had asked him whether the site could be used for commuter parking, given the lack of spaces at Broadmeadows station.
“[The motion] is seeking to get a collaboration between the state government… and local government… we haven’t necessarily had that in this project,” Cr Kurt said.
“We need to have the state government to commit funds… we need council push for that.”
Cr Carly Moore said while she supported the inclusion of commuter parking at the site, such parking was the responsibility of the state government.
“I think [commuter parking] would be very welcomed by the community,” she said.
“But…without any financial contribution from the Victorian government, we are not going to see commuter car parking at that site.”
Cr Jack Medcraft said he did not believe the site would ever be used for commuter parking.
“It is a space for the residents and the people who occupy the spaces around it, especially the police.,” he said.
“We have got police parking their cars on the street and having to walk all the way up Pearcedale Parade in the dark. They are screaming out for help and we can provide them with some parking.”
