Objectors: Belmont business operators Christian Evans and Greg Aylmore question the proposed charge for a new car park.
By John Van Klaveren
BELMONT traders have labelled council plans to hit them with a special charge for a car park as “bizarre” because they will gain little benefit.
Belmont Business Association President Greg Aylmore, who runs Jen’s Place in Centreway Arcade, said retailers would bear the brunt of the costs.
“The property owners and landlords will be invoiced but they’ll pass the cost on to the retailers, the lessees.
“We were told we’d be up for $150,000 but now it looks like our share is more than $200,000.”
“We’ve been speaking with our ward councillor, Bruce Harwood, as part of a push to have the amount reduced but $200,000 is still quite a whack.”
A council report said the Belmont St car park would cost more than $900,000.
Council policy required property owners to cover half the cost but the Belmont scheme allocated them $200,000 from State Government and $100,000 from City Hall.
Council would have to provide a further $404,585 on top of the property owners’ charge of $204,585, the report said.
The 177 properties under the scheme would pay charges from $67 to $18,107.
Mr Aylmore said businesses on the west side of High St would gain little.
“It’s on the opposite side of High St to us, for instance, and none of our customers are going to park there and cross the road.
“Rarely do we experience insufficient car parking on our side of High St.”
Mr Aylmore said a new complex of shops and offices was under construction adjacent to the proposed new car park.
“No one is happy, obviously. Business is tough enough as it is.
“Everything goes up except the number of customers. Rents are up, body corporate fees are up, rates are up.
“It’s even affecting iconic businesses like Darrell Lea. It’s a sign of the times – and who knows the full impact of the carbon tax?
“I’d like to see the economy turn around before we’re hit with extra charges like this.”
Cr Bruce Harwood moved to defer the item at a council meeting this week.
He said he was trying to source to more funding to further offset the cost to traders.
