Aberfoyle Park residents fined for parking in driveway petition Onkaparinga Council’s move to remove street parking

Fined repeatedly for parking on their own property, an Aberfoyle Park pair is now fighting back against council plans to make the road a no-go zone too.

Homeowners on a peaceful Aberfoyle Park court risk fines each time they park in their driveway and now they are fighting for the right to park out the front of the property.

Robert and Carole Billing live on Cassia Court and were dealt an expiation notice for parking in their steep driveway which encroaches on council land last year.

Onkaparinga Council now wants to install a yellow line around their property, a move which would make street parking illegal too.

Mrs Billings said the slope of the driveway made it “near impossible” to access their vehicle and risked damaging its underside and brakes.

The Billings’ steep driveway at the Cassia Court home encroaches on the council verge according to Onkaparinga Council. Picture: Emily Jarvis

“On August 17, 2020, we received an expiation notice as our vehicle was reversed parked in our driveway, to them they deemed it to be encroaching,” Mrs Billing said.

“I sent an email the following week about the notice and did not receive a reply to the issue until November 26 of this year, 15 months after I sent the initial email.

“We are risking getting fined everyday we park in our driveway.”

The unofficial parking bay the Billings paid for to ensure they had a safe car park that would not disturb other residents. Picture: Emily Jarvis

The couple purchased the home nearly 10 years ago and spent $800 constructing a parking bay to ensure their safety along the side of their property after they received verbal consent from council.

“Originally there were loose stones out the front which we were parking on but you would be rolling your ankle once you would step out the car,” Mrs Billing said.

“We approached council and were given verbal confirmation we, out of our own pocket, could place bricks out the front as an unofficial parking bay for our cars.”

Now they are being told it is no longer a viable option and the driveway should have never been approved in the first place, as it encroaches on the council verge.

The council is considering installing a ‘no stopping’ direction along the southern part of the street, stripping the Billings of nearby parking all together.

The proposed new parking rules for Cassia Court. Picture: Onkaparinga Council

A letter provided to the Billings from council said the reasoning to install the yellow line was to ensure maximum parking was retained.

“There is currently sufficient road space for nine vehicles to park on the northern side of Cassia Court, whereas there is only room for seven vehicles to park on the southern side of the road,” the letter said.

“An assessment of the location was conducted and it was found that Cassia Court has a road width of only 5.8m, which is insufficient to allow for vehicles to park on both sides of the road.”

Cassia Court residents have submitted a petition opposing the changes to council and will be discussed by councillors on Tuesday night.