A crucial Council meeting will take place at the City of Stonnington to discuss change in parking arrangements in the vicinity of St Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Malvern.
The parish of St Catherine’s is opposed to the changes because it believes the proposed changes will restrict the amount of parking available to its parishioners.
Stonnington Council will be considering a proposal to restrict parking on one side of Epping St, opposite the church, to permit holders. Currently, parking is allowed for two hours.
The parish priest Reverend Andreas Papadimitropoulos reacted angrily when he was notified by the Council that a number of local residents had petitioned for changes to the parking.
“I told them that this would constitute a discrimination against us,” Rev Papadimitropoulos said to Neos Kosmos.
The Greek Orthodox parish reacted to the proposal by gathering more than 1400 signatures from local residents as well as other members of the congregation who are residents of the wider area of Stonnington, calling for existing parking arrangements to remain in force.
Rev Papadimitropoulos revealed that the parish has been experiencing problems with a few of its neighbours since the founding of St Catherine’s in 1983.
But he underscored that they have tried to work together with local residents to address these issues.
“For example, every Sunday instead of beginning our services at 7am like other churches we commence at 8:30am so that we don’t disturb the neighbours.”
City of Stonnington Councilor, Tas Athanasopoulos expressed his unreserved support for St Catherine’s and stressed that he will be opposing the proposal to restrict parking on Epping Street.
“I call on all Greeks of Stonnington to show up to Monday’s meeting as a reminder that there many other Stonnington ratepayers who are adversely affected by this proposal,” Cr Athanasopoulos said.
The Mayor of Stonnington, Tim Smith refused to comment on the issue before the meeting.
He clarified that the Council Meeting will decide whether a permit zone would be established for Saturdays and Sundays between 9am to 6pm on the east side of Epping which is across the church.
The issue emerged following a petition to Council signed by 29 local residents.
Consequently, Cr Smith explained, the City of Stonnington undertook a public consultation process where it contacted 32 properties in the immediate vicinity.
Of that number, 28 responded with 22 in favour of a permit zone and 6 against it.
Labor Candidate for Malvern, Nick Voulanas noted however, that “while some residents of Epping Street support the proposal, it does not by any means have unanimous support from local residents.”
He further argued that “the council’s proposal to restrict parking… is unfair and a discriminatory attack on the St Catherine’s community, and a dangerous precedent for other local churches.”