Station Place traders are calling for Werribee’s pop-up park to be discontinued or relocated in the future, saying the six-week experiment had been bad for business.
A number of traders told Star Weekly last week of their fury at Wyndham council’s decision to close 22 carparking spaces in Station Place to accommodate the pop-up park, with many saying that it had driven loyal customers away.
Paul Camilleri, from Station Place Meats, said the business would be down $40,000 in turnover by the time the park closes on Sunday.
He said the business had closed its doors early on occasions and reduced staff hours.
“It’s affected us really bad,” he said. “We’ve had a few people come in and say it’s too far to walk with parcels of meat.”
Val Grasso, from Station Place Florist, said the business had suffered its slowest Valentine’s Day trade ever this year.
“If the council decides to make [the park] permanent, there will be vacant stores,” she said.
However, other traders remain in support of the park, including Phat Tao, who has owned Aussie Fashion for the past 18 years. He would like to see the park become a permanent feature.
“It’s safer for people coming here, working around here,” he said.
Wyndham council city economy director Kate Roffey said carparking had been a key consideration when planning the park.
She said the response to the pop-up park had been overwhelmingly positive from residents, visitors and traders.
“At this stage, it is too early to indicate if it will become an annual feature or if the location will change,” she said.
