Parking fines around Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium top $3m a year

IT’S supposed to be a coliseum of carnage for NSW Origin players, but ordinary Queenslanders are getting burnt if they get too close to Suncorp Stadium.

THERE are more than three million reasons not to try for a sneaky park around Suncorp Stadium for the next Broncos or State of Origin game.

Brisbane City Council documents show it stung illegally-parked motorists with 38,000 fines around the Milton-Lang Park traffic area between May 2013 and May 2014 – which at $82.50 a hit is more than $3 million for the city’s coffers.

HOW MUCH: Parking inspector a nice earner

REVIEW: Council acts on problem parking

At this year’s first State of Origin match, on May 28, there were 206 motorists fined for illegal parking. Of those, 185 were for overstaying the 15-minute limit that applies on game days, while others were for parking on yellow lines or across driveways.

The council says its inspectors target game days to keep parking spaces turning over for businesses and help residents.

The Opposition says $3 million a year in fines for one area is excessive.

Council’s Brisbane Lifestyle boss Cr Krista Adams said there were almost 2000 complaints made about illegal parking in the area and more than 38,000 fines handed out.

The majority of the fines were handed out by patrolling inspectors on game days.

“When it comes to Suncorp Stadium in particular, there’s no excuses for not getting on public transport,” she said.

“People parking in the streets and using it as event parking is quite annoying for residents and businesses.”

She said parking inspectors also patrolled the Gabba on game days, but figures on fines and complaints could not be obtained yesterday.

Cr Adams said illegal parking around sporting stadiums would be tackled in the council’s parking review, which is open for public submissions until July 11.

Gabba Ward Labor councillor Helen Abrahams said many motorists were being stung around the Gabba and other sporting stadiums because of unclear signs.