Adelaide City Council knocks back review of North Adelaide parking, raised by nurses fearing for safety
Two city councillors walked out of a heated meeting last night after a review of controversial parking changes — which have left nurses fearing for their safety — was knocked back.
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Two Adelaide City councillors stormed out of a fiery meeting on Tuesday night after a decision not to review parking changes that have left North Adelaide nurses fearing for their safety.
During debate about the changes, following a campaign from hospital workers who felt unsafe walking to their cars at night, Crs Anne Moran and Phil Martin left the chamber before the vote and did not return.
They were followed by Crs Robert Simms, who voted, and Helen Donovan, who didn’t. Both later returned.
Crs Martin and Moran were pushing for the review to see if parking rules need to be changed to allow nurses who work in the evening to park close to their workplace.
The council knocked back their push for a review, which would have been presented to the council next month, with a seven to one vote because they wanted to wait for a workshop next week where feedback would be considered.
Cr Martin, who hosted a meeting with nurses on Monday with Cr Moran, told The Advertiser after the meeting he was disappointed with members because he felt he was being personally attacked.
“The safety of nurses has just been sacrificed for cheap political shots,” Cr Martin said.
“It is a dysfunction council that ignores the plea of people concerned for their safety in such a callous manner.”
Under the new changes, which are being trialled until June 2020, the council has removed 10-hour parking spaces around at least three hospitals.
It is instead enforcing two, three or four-hour time limits.
Staff of hospitals including Calvary, The Memorial, Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Mary Potter Hospice now have to park a significant distance away, then walk through streets in the dark for work.
At the meeting on Monday, Cr Martin and Cr Moran heard nurses wanted better lighting, CCTV, more security guards and possibly even shuttle buses.
Cr Martin, who suggested “some sort of permit” for nurses, said at the meeting a taxi company was willing to shuttle nurses to designated locations.
Cr Houssam Abiad, who wanted to wait for the workshop, said other workers were in similar situations.
“Hospitality has the same problem, they just don’t have a loud voice,” he said.
“(Changes) will never please everyone … we have a workshop on this and I want to get a full picture.”
Cr Alexander Hyde said the parking reform risked becoming “Frankenstein’s monster”.
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said: “I’m all for passionate debate and it’s unrealistic to think members will agree on all things at all times, however, rest assured that we will work through the North Adelaide parking next Tuesday in Committee with a clear intent to address possible solutions to the issues raised.”
