On August 22, Neos Kosmos published a story detailing concerns that businesses in Oakleigh have about council, that are adding to the pressures of cost of living and all-time high rent costs.
The overall consensus among both shop owners and the public about Oakleigh Central and its surrounding streets is that there is a parking problem.
From ‘unnecessary’ loading zones to limited spots to private parking inspectors, many issues people have is related to parking.
Neos Kosmos spoke to City of Monash Councillor for Oakleigh Ward Theo Zographos to follow up on these issues.
“If your question is if there is a parking problem in Oakleigh, I would say there isn’t,” he said.
“But I also understand that some people want to park in certain areas for whatever reason, whereas there’s always a spot, in my experience going there different days of the week and times of the week.
“It’s just you might need to park 100 metres away from Eden Mall as opposed to 50 metres away. So I mean there’s always spaces, which means there isn’t actually a problem.”
As for the issue of private parking inspectors, one local called it “shifty business”, Cr Zographos said Monash is not unique and most councils have their services contracted out.
Since the previous story, one Neos Kosmos reader wrote in, complaining about the 24/7 loading zones.
They referenced one specifically outside All Season Dumpling Restaurant on Portman Street.
“Who the heck is delivering at 8pm on a Saturday? Or 2am on a Sunday? So wrong in so many ways. It is a cynical abuse of power by the council,” their message read.
This was brought up to Zographos who said council has changed certain loading zone spaces in the previous five or six years, and while some were proposed to be removed they haven’t been after consultation.
“Some might believe that the restrictions and the time of the week is inappropriate, but you know that’s fine you can have that view,” he said.
“You can challenge things in court (if you have a fine), but we’ve got restrictions for a reason, and they might think that the loading zone isn’t needed, but it might be needed by the trader in question that particular time of the day and night.
“I’ve been around 12 years on council, people always complain about getting a parking fine. They’re never in the wrong.”
Other than parking, smoking rule changes was another problem people have, and blame it for driving some customers away.
While there are state laws on this now, Monash Council has its own bylaws said Zographos.
He said historically they’ve had “a very strict regime when it comes to smoking in outdoor dining areas”, around Eden Mall in Oakleigh and Kingsway in Glen Waverley.
“I think it’s ridiculous, but it’s in place.”
Some shops have been closing up and people are worried that the area may decline like Acland St in St Kilda and Bridge St in Richmond.
Zographos said that it’s a sign of the economic environment that Australia is in, due to the state and federal government decisions. That this is more to blame than council rulings.
“It’s hard running a business and you don’t want anyone, whether it’s the government or the council, intruding on your business, so I can understand,” he said.
“But I can assure anyone that the council’s there to help and to have as much of a relationship as possible with the business community.
“Unfortunately, you won’t be able to please everyone all the time, but generally speaking, I think things are going in the right direction from a council person and people have the right to provide any feedback to me if they’ve got any different view and that we can take it from there.”
