Mall parking woes in store

Parking woes at the new Westfield Albany Centre soured the giant mall's opening for some shoppers last week.

Parking wardens swooped on the area on Saturday and at least 18 vehicles parked outside the carpark were towed.

North Shore City Council transport manager Ken Lee-Jones says the cars were on the median strip of Civic Cres near the mall's east entrance, which, he says, 'is not the right place to park your car'.

He says parking wardens issued tickets for cars parked along the arterial road, more so the newly-grassed median strip.

"Parking wardens issued the notices on Thursday and Friday, but on Saturday there were persistent motorists, and towing procedures were initiated," Mr Lee-Jones says.

Albany resident Peter Stewart says shoppers were penalised because the mall couldn't provide enough parking.

"Why should car owners be penalised for Westfield's failure to provide enough parking space for its shoppers? It's a bit scandalous because the mall had been doing a lot of publicity lately," Mr Stewart says.

He warns the problem could get worse as the Chistmas season draws nearer.

The centre's general manager, Linda Trainer, says Westfield is addressing the issue.

She says in anticipation of the busy opening weekend, management implemented a traffic plan and made arrangements for overflow parking at Hooton's Reserve off Oteha Valley Rd, with a shuttle service to the centre.

"This parking area was notified to motorists by a series of electronic signage boards on the roads leading to the shopping centre."

She says Westfield negotiated to have the towed cars transferred to the overflow parking area. It also asked the council to stop towing cars.

"Westfield will continue to coordinate such matters with the council. Nevertheless, it remains the council's right to fine anyone parking illegally, such as on any median strip on Civic Cres," Ms Trainer says.