Parking fines up 20 per cent at Westfield Tea Tree Plaza shopping centre

OPINION is split over whether growing O-Bahn patronage or a lack of clear signage is behind a surge in tickets issued at Adelaide’s second largest shopping centre.

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight in front of the Tea Tree Plaza carpark and O-Bahn interchange. Source: File

• Hundreds of car parks to go for $235m upgrade of Tea Tree Plaza
• $15m State Budget plan for 300 more carparks at Modbury interchange
• Westfield Marion parking fines up 18 per cent to more than $250,000

THE number of parking fines issued at Tea Tree Plaza has risen by 20 per cent in the past four years.

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight believes growing O-Bahn patronage is behind the surge in tickets, while a former trader and a shopper who was fined for overstaying her time limit say a lack of clear signage is also a contributing factor.

Figures obtained through Freedom of Informationshow Tea Tree Gully Council stung 11,775 drivers at the shopping centre in 2016.

The 2012 total was 9827.

Mr Knight said the growing popularity of the O-Bahn played a role in the increase.

“The shopping centre carpark is not there for the use of O-Bahn bus users or all-day parking but I know a lot of people still take the chance,” he said.

“I can assure you that I would rather see the money collected in expiation fees (instead) spent in the shops on goods and services.”

Mr Knight said he had “never been totally comfortable” with responsibility for monitoring the carpark — but said it was being done “at the specific request of, and under a written agreement with, Westfield Tea Tree Plaza”.

Tea Tree Gully Council inspectors have policed parking at the plaza since 1991, following an agreement with the owners Scentre Group.

Former owner of Cafe Buongiorno at the plaza, Brian Haslan, said the carpark lacked signage.

“There’s a sign at the entrance, and that’s it,” he said.

“It would take you a minute or two to read it all, and that holds up traffic.

“Perhaps businesses could validate parking for customers as you see at other centres.

“I don’t think customers should pay (for parking fines).”

Regular plaza shopper Sharon Taylor, of Highbury, recently copped a $51 parking fine for exceeding a five-hour parking limit.

She said she wasn’t aware of the restrictions due to a lack of signage.

“I came back from a holiday and wanted to produce a photo album as memorabilia,” she said.

“I didn’t know how long it would take and you’re not able to leave until the album is done.

“Where I was parked, there was not signage, it’s only at the main entrances.

“I was unaware of the time restriction.”

Parking at Tea Tree Plaza.

The NorthEastern Weekly revealed in August that 250 free car spaces will disappear during the first stage of a major redevelopment at the plaza.

However, an additional 300 spaces will be installed at the Modbury Park ‘n’ Ride interchange next year, where Metrocard-holding commuters will be able to park for $2 a day.

Exact timelines for those projects are still unknown.

Mrs Taylor was concerned the removal of 250 free car spaces would lead to a shortening of parking limits and make life harder for shoppers.

“I think they may restrict the time you have in the car parking area,” she said.

“You’ll have less time in the carparks.

“I think it will affect most people who want to spend time at the shopping centre.”

Parking limits range from 15 minutes to five hours, depending on how close drivers park to the centre.

Scentre Group did not respond to requests for comment before the NorthEastern Weekly deadline.