Beach fees ruin affordable family fun
Kara Jung | PAID parking at Henley Square is just another nail in the coffin on affordable family fun and days at the beach.
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NO-GAP filler is great for sealing cracked walls and draughty windows.
And as one Adelaidean also proved this week, it’s effective in rendering the controversial new $30,000 parking meters at Henley Square quite useless. At least until the Charles Sturt Council can work out how to fix them.
Yep, while traders and beachgoers expressed their anger at the new paid parking spaces in the car parks on either side of Henley Square, someone used a sealant to clog the holes in coin slots in two of the three machines.
He was labelled by many on social media as an “everyday hero”, by others an “idiot”.
And while nearby Cibo cafe manager Antoinette Napoli said she does not condone vandalism, she wasn’t at all surprised by the incident or the outpouring of anger from beachgoers and traders impacted by the new fees.
“It’s been very quiet here for the second week in a row so it’s definitely affecting us,” Ms Napoli said.
She is among more than 8000 to sign petitions calling for the fees to be scrapped.
And it seems at least one councillor realises the new charges, which sneakily started on August 14, are a bit rough.
Henley Ward Cr Jassmine Wood will ask the council at its August 28 meeting to consider making the first three-hours free and $2 thereafter.
But really, how about instead of removing the sealant or the cost for the first three hours, we just remove the parking meters?
South Australia has some of the most spectacular beaches on the planet. They should be free for all of us to enjoy. Take the kids for a night at the movies and you’re out of pocket at least $70, once tickets, popcorn and drinks are purchased.
Adelaide Zoo? That’s $90 to get the family through the door — before you’ve bought snacks or feed for the goats.
Weekend club sport for the kids? There’s fees to pay and uniforms to buy.
Then there’s sky-high childcare costs, school fees, birthday parties and mortgage payments.
Our power prices are some of the most expensive in the world — and rising.
The cost of living is going up. So much so, that for many families, a night at the movies is rare or beyond reach.
But packing the kids into the car for a few hours of family fun at the beach?
Building sandcastles, splashing in the sea and spying little fish?
That great Aussie pastime should be free. We can’t complain about kids stuck in the house, glued to screens if we start making it unaffordable for people to get outdoors and enjoy our open spaces.
It’s hard enough to find a free park at Glenelg these days and now Henley Square is going to be the same. Which Adelaide beach will be next?
South Australian families don’t need the added expense, particularly when it comes to what was once a free — or, at least, affordable — family day out.
Good on the council for increasing the time limits to three hours — two hours was too short. But to argue paid parking was introduced to ensure people had “enough time to dine”. Well, that just doesn’t stack up.
The three-hour time limits do that all on their own, without having to charge a fee as well. Particularly when those who overstay the limit get hit with a $50 fine. And I wonder how many people will have to put their coins into parking meters and forego the cup of coffee, hot chips or ice cream for the kids.
Small businesses have it tough enough without having to fight the council for a share of customers’ spending money.
So hop on your bikes and ride in? Leave the car at home? Great idea if you live super close to the beach.
But for those who don’t, cycling for miles with bags of towels, changes of clothing, snacks, sunscreen and nappies, as well as the kids, is hardly an option.
I mean seriously, getting anywhere with kids is often like wrangling a herd of caffeinated meerkats.
I can’t help think this move is another way to put money in council coffers, while putting another nail in the coffin of affordable family fun.
What do you think? Should parking be free at Henley Square? Have your say in the comments below.
Kara Jung is Messenger’s Digital Editor.