Moonee Valley businesses say the council is failing to engage with them about better ways of continuing the Covid-era parklet program.
The parklet program has seen the council convert parking spaces into community areas, offering businesses the opportunity to expand their trading premises, for a fee.
Owner of Flemington florist, Flora Lara, Lara Damjanovic says she knows the value of the parklet outside her business.
“I’ve seen how much people value it, but they can’t expect little tiny businesses to fork out the cash,” Ms Damjanovic said.
This parklet, ‘Pin Oak Pup-Up’, was set up during Covid.
Ms Damjanovic says she understands the council allowed the previous owner to use it for free for the first year.
But since the council began demanding a paid Footpath Trading Permit to run the parklet, it has remained unsponsored.
Ms Damjanovic was recently issued with a Notice to Comply by the council for putting chairs and tables out without a permit and threatened with a $600 fine.
Ms Damjanovic says this is a loss for the community rather than her business.
“People loved [the furniture]. They used it all the time,” she says.
But Ms Damjanovic says the cost of the permit, at over $1000 a year, is unreasonable.
“I’m not going to sell more flowers because that’s sitting outside,” she says.
With a lack of council maintenance, Ms Damjanovic says she spends time keeping the parklet clean, tidy and free from rubbish.
“I live here as well. As a member of the community, it’s a shame to neglect it like this,” she says.
Rowan Duley owns the business next to Flora Lara. He says he has been similarly frustrated.
“It fills with rubbish every week. They don’t clean it. Are we supposed to?” he asks.
Ms Damjanovic has made repeated attempts to ask the council for help. She says she has contacted them on multiple occasions, but has been unable to come to a clear conclusion about management of the parklet.
“They’re just a bit evasive,” Ms Damjanovic said.
Elephant Cafe owner Paul Hatzis says he pays $2,200 a year to sponsor a parklet outside his Flemington business. He says it’s a worthwhile investment, but it also creates problems.
Mr Hatzis says the covid-era parklet design is outdated, as wooden chairs are screwed in and can’t be moved, and the set up is restrictive for a dynamic and busy cafe.
He says other cafes in the area have received new parklets that are better suited to their needs, but his repeated attempts to contact the council have achieved nothing.
Mr Hatzis has done extensive work on his own, gaining approval from nearby residents and businesses for a new parklet to be built, but he gave up contacting the council six months ago.
“I’m tired of the situation,” he said.
The three business owners say they all agree the council’s parklet program is positive for businesses but they have all had problems with the way it is administered.
The council website states it is “currently undertaking a review of parklets in the municipality”.
There is no indication from the council of when this review will end, or what outcomes it may achieve.
Both the Moonee Valley Council and Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr Dr Rose Iser declined to comment.
