Plea for parking

If you, like me, love going to Yarragon for a coffee, browsing the quality art and craft shops or just soaking up the charm of Yarragon sitting in the rotunda - please read on.

At the most recent Baw Baw Council meeting a planning permit application for a two storey building at Yarragon, comprising a commercial and residential development and a reduction in car parking was on the agenda.

The reduction of car parking was the focal issue of debate.

Councillors Cook and Kostos were vehemently opposed to the granting of this application as it stood as it “provides a watershed situation that will have long term ramifications in to the future of the town.”

As Cr Cook rightly pointed out “it is essential that developers contribute their fair share to parking and that it is in line with the type of business they have - cafes and restaurants being a main contri butor to parking needs and time.” The lone voice of reason - Cr Cook - stood up and gave an impassioned plea for reason and foresight.

He stated “remember the long standing residents (some no longer with us) who stood up for the township of Yarragon when VicRoads upgraded the Princes Highway into a dual carriageway. They made sure Yarragon wasn’t treated like Moe or Darnum.

He so succinctly pointed out that this council should not create a parking problem for future councils to fix.

He impored his other councillors the need to remember how important it is to set precedence and that is what we are looking at today. Profoundly he finished - “we have today’s residents to care for and tomorrow’s to plan for.”

Anyway, Cr Cook’s voice of reason, along with Cr Kostos’ was outvoted and the application approved with provision for six car parks. not 12 as the two lone councillors (who represent Yarragon) wanted.

May we well remember this decision when in the not too distant future we take our visitors to Yarragon and are unable to get a park and so go elsewhere.