A MOUNT Gambier business owner has praised council for saving several car parks, which were set to make way for the new ALDI development.
A total of 10 car parks on Ferrers Street and Compton Street were set to be lost to allow enough room for ALDI’s delivery truck to navigate driveway entrance and exit.
However at this week’s council meeting, elected members resolved to keep eight of the car parks, instead placing a restriction on what times they can be used.
Arena Sports proprietor Michael Pitt said it was a common-sense decision by council for the protection of local businesses.
“It is important because we lost six or seven parks when the traffic lights went in and we just could not afford to lose any more around here,” Mr Pitt said.
“In the country, people like to park out the front of your shop and particularly for the physiotherapy who would have been affected because they have people who are incapacitated who need close parks to access their service.”
The adjusted motion means members of the public will not be allowed to use a selection of parks on Compton Street and Ferrers Street between the hours of 9pm and 8am.
This will allow the multi-national company ALDI to make deliveries to the complex overnight without any obstructions.
“It’s good because those times do not interfere with our traffic,” Mr Pitt said.
“The councillors came to a good outcome, which will allow us to keep our car parks, while also assisting ALDI to get their truck in there.”
While a positive result was achieved at Tuesday night’s meeting, Mr Pitt said he was still frustrated with the way it was handled.
“The way it was handled was very poor on the administration of council because we were not informed,” he said.
“There should have been consultation with the shop owners because if we had not got wind of it, it would have just been put through and then we would have been told we lost four car parks.
“The lesson I learned is the elected members are there for the people and I was happy with how they came to the agreement.”
With new development set to open in a matter of weeks, Mr Pitt said he had mixed feelings due to the effect it will have on other businesses.
“It is good in the sense that we have put up with the eyesore of Fidler and Webb for over 10 years which was a disgrace – it should not have been able to sit there for as long as it did,” he said.
“It will be fantastic for me, however I do feel like it is just robbing Peter to pay Paul, I am sympathetic towards business owners at the other end of town.”
