Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 2 October 2024
Amaani Siddeek and Kirsten Jelinek
Sydney’s T3 Bankstown line has officially closed as work begins to convert the rail corridor to Metro operations.
Belmore businesses are struggling with falling customer numbers after carparks were closed as part of Metro conversion works, which have forced shoppers to go elsewhere.
Belmore businesses are struggling with falling customer numbers after two key carparks were closed as part of works to convert an old railway line for the new Metro, leaving shoppers with “nowhere to park” and forcing them to go elsewhere.
One of the businesses facing an uncertain future is Belmore Newsagency, which has been a fixture in the southwest Sydney community for 22 years.
Co-owner Mai Trieu said the Belmore Rd business had been plagued by a “problem with the parking” since work commenced on the Metro conversion.
“All the customers would like to come and support (us), but there’s no parking,” she said.
“It’s really hard for them. I would like to ask everybody to help us.
“Please bring back the parking for customers because, at the moment, we’re a small town. We really need all customers’ support.”
Ms Trieu said limited parking options for customers had always been an issue in Belmore but, since works commenced for the Metro conversion of the T3 Bankstown Line, two carparks had been shut down.
Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Karl Saleh with the owners of Belmore News Agency, May and Van. Picture: Facebook
“Of course (it’s affecting us) a lot,” she said.
“Because they’re closed, there’s no parking and people don’t want to stop here. It’s really quiet here now.”
Ms Trieu also said a number of her long-term and elderly customers had given up trying to come to the newsagency.
“I said ‘where you been?’ and (one customer) said: ‘No parking here. I had to drive four or five times around and then we have to go. We have nowhere to park.’”
Train passengers from Bankstown to Sydenham have been forced onto replacement buses by Metro conversion works. Picture: NewsWire/Simon Bullard
Train passengers from Bankstown to Sydenham have been forced onto replacement buses by Metro conversion works. Picture: NewsWire/Simon Bullard
Ms Trieu said some customers had attempted to park further away and walk to her newsagency.
“But especially the old people, they can’t walk so far,” she said.
“They want to come and they said: ‘I parked really far away but I can’t walk down Mai, I’m so sorry.’”
Belmore Bakery manager Francis Huynh said on top of reduced foot traffic, the carpark closures had impacted that business’ delivery service.
Belmore Bakery manager Francis Huynh. Picture: Canterbury-Bankstown Express
Belmore Bakery manager Francis Huynh. Picture: Canterbury-Bankstown Express
“Sometimes it takes an extra 20 minutes for the food delivery guys to find a car park, so it’s really affected the quality of our products,” Mr Huynh said.
“By the time it reaches the customers, the food they order gets cold.”
Mr Huynh, 28, said while the Metro works had brought a number of tradespeople through his doors, he had also seen a drop in loyal customers.
“Especially the elderly. When they can’t find parking they just give up,” he said.
With works scheduled to continue for the next year, Mr Huynh said many businesses along Belmore Rd would likely continue to suffer without help.
“It’s not good, this street really relies on a lot of foot traffic. And when customers do come in, they’re very upset about it.”
Labor Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Karl Saleh said small businesses were the “backbone” of the community and couldn’t afford to “bear the brunt of these disruptions”.
“The businesses are already facing the challenge of no trains running and we need, as a council, to look for a way to solve this issue in consulting with the department of transport and Sydney Metro,” he said.
Mr Saleh said he would “fight hard to solve this issue immediately” to ease the parking burdens and support residents and shop owners.
A Sydney Metro spokesman said a 28-space carpark on Tobruk Ave and 19 car spaces in the 28-space carpark on the corner of Bridge and Burwood roads, in Belmore, had temporarily closed to prepare for the installation of security fencing.
“Once the fencing work is completed later this year, the carpark areas used to carry out the fencing works will be reopened,” the spokesman said.
A total of 12 timed and untimed parking spaces are also available on Bridge St to allow for the “fare-free Southwest Link buses to operate safely in the area.”
“Sydney Metro will continue to work with residents and local businesses impacted by the conversion to ensure they are informed of upcoming work,” the spokesman said.
A Canterbury-Bankstown Council spokesman said the reopening of Bridge Rd carparks was a matter for Sydney Metro and the council would wait for further details on the local.