Call to step up parking signage

By Casey Neill
FEARSthat parking problems at Upper Ferntree Gully’s 1000 Steps could soon prove fatal have prompted a council investigation.
Upwey resident Jim Hunt is calling for improved signage to discourage motorists from parking dangerously at the busy Mt Dandenong Tourist Road fitness attraction and war memorial.
Yesterday (Monday) Yarra Ranges Council said it would look into putting up No Stopping signs along the road.
The council’s Environment and Engineering Director Mark Varmalis said it will take between four to six weeks to consult with Parks Victoria, the police and VicRoads about the signs. Mr Hunt said no standing/parking signs at unsafe parking points and those adjacent to double white lines would also “give the police a base from which to work”.
Mr Hunt called on VicRoads to survey the road verge area “from the park entrance right up to Tremont, and determine whether there is sufficient off-road space for a car to park”.
“I feel this is the first step and would go a long way to controlling the vehicles and minimising the possibility of a major accident,” he said.
“On the current course of events it would not surprise me that in the foreseeable future a fatality will occur.”
He said he had approached Yarra Ranges Council’s Upwey office to complain about the “shocking” parking situation on weekends, and was told it was VicRoads’ responsibility.
“Drivers doing U-turns over double lines to get to a just vacated spot, and double parking on the road whilst waiting for a car to exit,” he said.
However, when the Mail contacted the road authority, a spokeswoman said it was a council matter.
On 7 February, the Mail reported that police were allocating additional resources to monitor the area on high-use days to try to stop an accident from occurring.
“It’s lucky there hasn’t yet been a serious accident,” Belgrave Sergeant John Saddington said.
One 1000 Steps visitor, Miles Davis, discovered a car parked in the middle of the road on Australia Day.
Industrial action involving Parks Victoria staff saw the car park closed on the busy public holiday, compounding its usual parking problems.
“The driver of this car parked 75 per cent on the road, which was very busy with cars, bicycles and other vehicles, on a double white line section,” he said.
“There were almost two accidents in the five minutes that I was there.
“There is no excuse for putting other people’s lives at risk.”