Cairns: Parking meter appears on suburban Yorkeys Knob street
A truly weird situation is unfolding in a suburban Cairns street with an unsanctioned parking meter cemented into the ground in an apparent bid to discourage cars from stopping.
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A TRULY weird situation is unfolding in a suburban Cairns street with an unsanctioned parking meter cemented into the ground in an apparent bid to discourage cars from stopping.
The unauthorised, coin-operated meter has been erected on Cairns Regional Council land outside 6 Golf St in Yorkeys Knob, leaving neighbours scratching their heads about the motivation.
Motorists leaving their cars on the strip of road have reportedly previously received handwritten letters on their windshields telling them to stop parking there.
The new addition appears to take it one step further into dangerous legal territory.
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A Queensland Police spokesman said the person responsible could be committing a criminal offence.
“It is possible a non-authorised parking meter could be an offence and if the QPS were to receive a complaint on this matter it would be investigated,” he said.
Either way, the steel machine’s lifespan is rapidly reaching its end.
Division 8 councillor Rhonda Coghlan said she had no doubt about the legality of the situation.
“The installation of this meter is definitely illegal and it will be removed,” she said.
“It’s on council property.
“I’m hoping that it’s gone by this weekend.”
Cr Coghlan said the council had not received any formal complaints about people parking on the small, dead-end residential street.
“We can’t act if we don’t know about it, but it sounds like they would be legally parked,” she said.
“It’s not an offence to park as long as your car is registered and you move it regularly – you can’t store it there.
“I’ve heard lots of complaints about people parking in front of people’s houses, but usually that’s because they are there for extended periods.”
Cr Coghlan also asked the one question on everybody’s lips — where does one come across a retired parking meter.
“I wonder where it came from, that’s the thing,” she said.
The Cairns Post has attempted to speak to the property owner.
A neighbour said he was aware of the meter but did not wish to get involved.
Originally published as Cairns: Parking meter appears on suburban Yorkeys Knob street
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