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6:15AM Sunday 23 November, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 17° - max 25°

Council windfall from Noosa parking fines

3 October 2008

| By Grant Reynolds

It’s the question every irate driver has asked when they return to their car to find a council calling-card stuck under the windscreen wiper: how much money does council make from issuing parking tickets?

Tewantin resident Peter Andrews lodged a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act for the “total monetary value of all traffic infringement notices issued to motorists wrongly parked in Weyba Road in the vicinity of the Sunday Market on market days”.

The day of Mr Andrews’ fine, August 10, 2008, council received a total of $3680 in fines. Council’s manager of public order and safety Ron Thomas told Noosa News last week the standard fine for a “no stopping” breach was $80.

That equates to about 53 infringement notices on August 10, during the five hours it’s open for business.

“The fact that we’ve got 53 fines on one market day shows people are not purposely going into this place and parking in defiance of the law,” Mr Andrews said.

A total of $17,360 went into council coffers from the five Sunday mornings in July and August.

Division 11 councillor Russell Green rejected suggestions council was revenue raising. Mr Green urged market-goers to park in the AFL grounds to avoid future fines.

Mr Andrews was fined after a visit to the markets, but he had decided to fight the matter in court.

He said when other cars were parked along that section of Weyba Road, it was impossible to see the yellow line.

He called on council to go beyond the requirements of the law and erect signs to warn drivers, particularly those not familiar with the area.

What do you think? email us at noosaed@scnews.com.au

Recent Comments

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Posted by SpareUs from Spin
on 3 October, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
No more signage pollution just to satisfy selfish pedants who park so as to create a hazard to others unless the bleeding obvious is spelled out to them. Yellow lines on the pavement are a good enough indicator for everyone else.
Posted by moviniton from Nambour
on 3 October, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This council is revenue raising. What's wrong with a few signs? What's wrong with a bit of understanding? I've lived on the coast for two years. Where I came from there was no such thing as a yellow line on the side of the road. In the last two years I have not seen or heard one but of information explaining what they mean. I was booked last year at 7am on a Saturday for parking on the footpath in front of my home. Just revenue raising. If the footpath belongs to council why don't they ever take care of the footpath. I should invoice them for mowing and gardening services.
Posted by Mungogerrie from Tewantin
on 3 October, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mr Green suggests people park in the football ground!
Have you tried that when there is a game on.
NO parking is available to the market goers, that is why people have to park along the road.
Same problem on Sundays at Noosa Harbour Marina market, not enough parking space and unsuspecting visitors park in the boat parking bays. [Even though there is a mssive grassed area fenced off for no particular reason and should be made into more parking spaces!]
Better watch out!
Welcome to Noosa, have a nice day!
Kat..ching!!!!!!!
Posted by Eugene from Doonan
on 3 October, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
My suggestion is that SCRC put parking meters in places across the whole region where all of these regulated paking issues are being experienced. The zonings are there to regulate so they only have to install the ticket dispensers.

Give local residents a residents sticker for their vehicles, which gives them an exemption or greatly reduced fee.

We pay $2 and hour in Byron Bay or more in Brisbane; it's a standard revenue earner which is common practice elsewhere.

For some reason it's not being employed here and millions of tourism dollars are being squandered each year which the ratepayers are sorely missing out on, and entitled to ask WHY ?.

Politically if given the exemption the voting public would not show any meaningful backlash towards Council.

There may be some grumblings from the tourism bods, but really we have a great product and the tourists will still come in droves regardless.

So come on Bob and Russell how about implementing a win/win situation for the benefit of all residents and ratepayers and make it clear to all just where and when they can park.

BTW. The 2 hour limit in Hasting St. most people like to take a stroll up and back before or after their hour and fifty minute meal.
It just doesn't leave much time for a waffle or ice-cream does it ?

About time you did a poll on this one ED.
Posted by Mungogerrie from Tewantin
on 3 October, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Eugene from Doonan:
Who goes to Hastings Street these days.??
Very few locals, the reason:
NO bloody parking!!!!
Please, "No" to parking meters, let's try and keep what is left of our village way of life.
Posted by Eugene from Doonan
on 3 October, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mungo

It was a village when the houses were fibro on stumps and the cyclone swell washed straight through underneath into Hastings street.
When there was a corner store and the chemist and not much else.

These days it may be the play ground of the well heeled, however many local residents still go there and use the facilities on offer.

So Mungo in essence it is no longer a village atmosphere and parking is still an issue , has long been an issue and is yet to have any meaningful leadership applied by our politicians.

Maybe more local ratepayers would be happier to go there if there were residents car parks at either end of Hastings street and while they're at it put some in at the surf beaches and boat ramps.

Unfortunately it's all aimed at the tourist dollar but the ratepayers see little benefit comming back to them for all the inconvenience.

Sadly the main windfall comes from parking fines not legitamat fees imposed as a user pays benefit.
Posted by dowhatjohn from Bli Bli
on 3 October, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Seems to me the only reason the yellow line is there is to stop drivers blocking the bicycle lane and forcing cyclists out into the general traffic flow. Fair enough. But I don't see any problem if drivers park their cars to the left of the yellow line and don't obstruct the bicycle lane. Where are the safety or traffic management issues if driver's park in an orderley fashion? Come on Council, show some common sense.
Posted by stevie from caboolture
on 7 October, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I was fined at seaview terrace on sun 5/10/08. I had parked the car a legal distance from the corner,made sure I was not blocking any driveway,checked to see if there were any "no parking signs" (there were not) and my wife and I then proceeded to the beach. On our return we had been given a parking fine?? We were wondering why when we were told by a local that it was because I had parked near a yellow line ?? I have never heard of this law and 8 out of 10 people I have since talked to haven't either. The council must realize this and know it is just blatant revenue raising ?? Put up a sign and let people know instead of fining innocent folk like us who just went to the beach for the day only to have it spoilt by you. Use my $80 for the sign.
Posted by bendertiger from Calamvale
on 11 October, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
dowhatjohn, reason being, if they park to the left of the bicycle lane, open a door and *thwack*. I've heard of cyclist's being killed by having a door opened in front of them.

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