WARRNAMBOOL City Council will dig through its archives in an effort to get definitive answers on who paid for the city’s off-street car parks and if a long-term agreement for free parking was entered into.
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After lengthy debate on Monday night, councillors voted 4-3 on a notice of motion moved by Cr Peter Sycopoulis, calling for a report about rating schemes on businesses surrounding the Ozone, Parkers and Cramond and Dixon car parks during the 1980s.
He also asked for information about provisions made that the car parks would remain free in an effort to quash shopping centres on the city’s fringes.
Crs Sycopoulis, Brian Kelson, Peter Hulin and Jacinta Ermacora voted in favour.
Councillor Michael Neoh asked chief executive officer Bruce Anson if there was an agreement in place for ongoing free parking as a result of rate schemes.
Mr Anson replied there was not, and when parking meters were installed in 1993, the claim was thoroughly investigated.
“It was quite an issue in the town at the time and despite many people saying they had evidence of such documentation, it was never produced,” he said.
Mr Anson said the separate rate schemes ran for 10 years, with council paying for the land and the rate scheme paying for construction.
He said at the time meters were installed, there was talk of legal action, which never proceeded.
Cr Sycopoulis said there was no mischief – he just wanted the facts.
“I’m not asking council to commit to anything except to search the archives for some facts,” he said.
“There is debate about if there was or wasn’t – I just want some facts in front of me to help me make the right decisions.
“I’m not asking for a great deal, it’s just some time to search the archives.”
Cr Hulin said it was about a right to information.
“If there is no agreement, this draws a line through it,” he said.
Cr Neoh said he supported anyone with knowledge of an agreement to come forward, but asked for a point in the motion to be removed. Cr Sycopoulis refused.
Cr Askew said the issue had been discussed many times, but no one had ever come forward with evidence.
He said it was investigated in 1993 when parking meters were installed and if there was evidence, it would have come forward then.