MARCH 11, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Action urged on station parking
Panicked buyers empty shelves By Esther Lauaki Wyndham residents are being urged not to stockpile key household items, with panicked shoppers leaving supermarket shelves empty as coronavirus fears spread. Last week, shelves had been stripped of dog food, long-life milk, pasta, nappies and hand sanitiser and Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets limited toilet paper purchases to customers. A Coles spokesperson told Star Weekly the temporary purchase limits would help to maintain stock levels in store while suppliers increase local production and distribution centres increase deliveries. Coles Werribee currently has a 48-hour turnaround on products.
“Coles has increased the number of deliveries to stores this week to improve availability on other popular products, such as long-life pantry staples and healthcare items, and our teams are working hard to fill the shelves as quickly as possible,” a statement from Coles said. “While there may be some temporary stock shortages, the vast majority of products in our stores and via Coles online remain available for customers. “It is not unusual for Coles to face disruption, which can occur for many reasons, from environmental factors such as floods, cyclones and bushfires, to third party disruptions. “As a result, we have comprehensive response plans in place across our network that cover contingencies including resourcing and product sourcing.”
Woolworths said its teams are continuing to work hard on restocking stores with long-life food and groceries from distribution centres. “The vast majority of the products in our range remain available for our customers as normal,” a spokesperson said. Panic buying has also placed pressure on Foodbank and other welfare organisations. Manor Lakes Foodbank manager Lynette Labuschagne said it was still too early to tell whether panic buying was having a significant impact on the welfare service. “We have noticed that donations of toilet paper have gone down,” Ms Labuschagne said. “We only had four packs donated recently so we couldn’t give out any toilet paper last week. “I will have to monitor what goods come in through our deliveries next week.”
Alesha Capone
12441905-DL11-20
Empty shelves at Woolworths, Hogans Road. (Pictures: Supplied)
Commuter carparks at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale railway stations are “at breaking point”, according to Wyndham’s mayor. In a letter to Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne, Cr Josh Gilligan has called for an update on the state’s commitment in 2018 to build an additional 500 car parking spaces at Tarneit. He said supporting commuters in a rapidly-growing community was “critical”. The letter, dated March 2, states cars parking outside of designated parking bays at both Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations was “causing congestion and putting commuters at risk”. “Supporting the community to use rail services to commute for work and study, instead of a car on our congested freeways is critical, even more so when you consider the rate of growth that our city is experiencing,” the letter states. Cr Gilligan asked Ms Horne for “an update on the progress of delivering these much-needed carparking spaces, as well as confirmation that consultation will occur with council on the planning and development work, prior to community consultation.” He posted a copy of the letter on his Facebook last week with the comment: “Our ongoing advocacy on reliable rail for Tarneit and Wyndham Vale commuters means we’ll hold the state and federal governments to account on their promises.” A state government spokesperson said: “We’re getting on with the early planning and design work to deliver more carparks at Wyndham Vale, Werribee, Tarneit and Watergardens stations. “Our Car Parks for Commuters Fund will deliver 1600 new and upgraded car parks across Wyndham Vale, Werribee, Watergardens and Tarneit train stations, freeing up parking in neighbouring streets and making it easier for more locals to catch the train.”