Russell Island woman burns parking fine, leads campaign against council
An island woman fined $161 for parking incorrectly at a crowded ferry terminal, has set light to the fine and is rallying more than 300 disgruntled residents in a campaign against the penalties.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A bay island woman, fined $161 for parking in the wrong place at a crowded ferry terminal, is spearheading a campaign of civil disobedience against a local council after vowing not to pay up.
In a sign of defiance, Russell Island resident Susan Mandeville set alight to the Redland City Council fine and said she would fight it in court – or go to prison.
She was so incensed with the council fine she called on more than 300 other island residents who have been fined to join her feisty ferry fine fight.
Ms Mandeville said the council and state government had not provided adequate parking at the terminal for island residents, who are forced to leave their cars on the mainland to board ferries to go home.
And it seems Ms Mandeville is not the only island resident to rail against the council fines at the busy ferry terminal, the gateway to some of the state’s poorest communities.
Redland City Council said 15 other car owners were taking it to court over fines issued at Weinam Creek since January 1.
The 67-year-old grandmother had left her car at the Weinam Creek terminal at Redland Bay overnight, in what looked like a bitumen car space inside a white line but with a yellow line along the kerb.
“All around my car there were cars parked on the grass, in boat trailer spaces, even though there is now no boat ramp as it was closed nearly two months ago,” Ms Mandeville said.
“The council and the state government have reduced the number of spaces while in the full knowledge that the population on the four islands has risen.
“This is the last straw and I’m fighting this because island residents have a right to get home safely and the council knows how many people live on the islands but fail to provide parking at the terminal.
“They slug us some of the highest rates in southeast Queensland and have been making promises about parking for more than 16 years.
“The former state MP promised $90 million for a multistorey carpark but nothing has happened – and it means lots of people miss ferries because they cannot park their cars safely.”
The Weinam Creek ferry terminal, a state government-owned Priority Development Area, often crowded and with limited parking, has been a longstanding issue for island residents since promises were made to fix the parking by the council as long ago as 2009.
More than 40 island residents waged a protest and formed a picket line forcing council workers to stop work at a construction site near the ferry terminal in September last year.
It was also the battleground for candidates in both local and state government election campaigns this year.
Two months ago, the former state government promised $95 million to build the multistorey carpark, if elected in October.
The former government had already pledged $15 million to Redland City Council for the carpark project after backlash from island residents when it took parking land near the terminal for its $43.8 million Redland Satellite Hospital in August last year.
The state government’s Economic Development Queensland, which oversees the ferry terminal PDA, yesterday directed all questions about the promised multistorey carpark to Redland City Council.
It also referred questions to the council about when 10 hectares of prime waterfront land at Wallaby Rd, Redland Bay will be turned into a boat ramp and parking.
The council compulsorily resumed the land, and its mansion, from an elderly widow in 2023 for $2.4 million.
However, newly elected Redlands MP Rebecca Young said the government remained committed to a parking relief package, which included a multi-level carpark, along with 50 per cent barge subsidies and free membership to an island car share service.
“For more than 12 months, I have been very clear that we would work in collaboration with Redland City Council, the Redlands Investment Corporation, and their development partners to ensure these parking solutions are delivered,” she said.
“This is a collaborative effort and once the groundwork is completed, something Labor failed to deliver, we will provide details on the number of parking spaces, paid and free options, and a solid timeline for the project.
“The government has committed to ensuring that both free and paid parking options remain available in the precinct, as has always been the case.
“The car share service will be expanded and given a permanent home in the area, contributing an estimated $12 million worth of parking infrastructure for the islands.”
Redland council said the state government determined the dollar value of council parking fines and none of the revenue from Weinam Creek ferry terminal fines was specifically designated to upgrading the ferry terminal.
“Unpaid infringement notices (fines) are referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) for collection,” the council said.
“Council encourages drivers to park in accordance with the road rules and regulated parking signs.”
Embattled Star’s $2bn tourism hit as future hangs in balance
Almost 100 events estimated to bring 30,000 visitors to Brisbane are booked to take place at Star’s Queen’s Wharf over the coming months, as new figures reveal the critical impact of the “game-changing” precinct to the River City.
Clear and present danger: Focus needs to be on saving lives first
The timing of Steven Miles’ cheap political point scoring as he questioned the Premier’s response to the ongoing floods in Townsville is questionable, if not childish, writes the editor. Now is the time to act. Lives are at risk.