Caboolture Sports Club parking locks out Morayfield station commuters

Regular commuters who struggle to find a park at a bustling Moreton Bay train station, are up in arms with their access to overflow parking shutdown from the neighbouring sports club.

Under the pump peak hour commuters at a Moreton Bay train station, who had been reliant on overflow parking at the neighbouring sports club, have been confronted by a locked gate and a broken agreement.

Finding a park at the Morayfield Train Station for the peak hour commute to work has always been a struggle, but a 2018 overflow parking agreement between Queensland Rail and the Caboolture Sports in 2018 was well received by the community.

In 2018 Queensland Rail had teamed-up with the sports club to double the parking for customers to almost 650, the agreement allowing for overflow from the station car park to use the sports club in peak capacity times.

They collectively invested $175,000 to link their existing car parks by a new driveway and pedestrian footpath.

However in the past month there has been community uproar as commuters have been faced with a locked gate that connects the train station with parking at the Caboolture Sports Club.

Nurse Brynn Chisholm is frustrated with the locked gates to overflow parking at the Morayfield Train Station. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

Nurse Brynn Chisholm catches the train into the city twice a week for work.

“The issue is the sports club’s advertising the car park is open to commuters at 9am but lately in the past month, they’ve been keeping the gate closed and barricading off the front car park,” Ms Chisholm said.

“That’s resulted in a lot of commuters racing around last minute to try and find a parking spot, run to catch their train and potentially miss work.

“There’s been no communication from the Caboolture Sports Club that I know of.

“No announcements anywhere, the signs haven’t been changed in anyway, they’re just denying people entry.”

In 2018 Queensland Rail had teamed-up with the sports club to double the parking for customers to almost 650. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

Queensland Rail’s Acting Head of South East Queensland Sarah Dixon confirmed the agreement with Caboolture Sports Club remains in place.

“This agreement gives Queensland Rail customers access to extra carparks during busy periods, whilst also allowing Caboolture Sports Club patrons use of the station carpark outside of peak times,” Ms Dixon said.

“Queensland Rail entered into this mutually beneficial agreement as it helps resolve the community’s need for additional parking for train customers and club patrons.

“We will continue to work closely with the Caboolture Sports Club to support the needs of our customers and the club’s patrons.”

The Caboolture Sports Club was contacted for comment but failed to respond by deadline.

Morayfield MP Mark Ryan with Queensland Rail’s community liaison officer Lyndon James and Caboolture Sports Club Chairman Kevin Kaeser, shaking off on the 2018 agreement. Picture: File

Ms Chisholm’s experiences have been echoed by community members online.

Sandra Stevenson posted on the Caboolture Community Notice Board on July 26: “I am not sure what is behind the new move for the Caboolture Sports Club to lock its overflow carpark to commuters.

“I thought it was a brilliant idea and such community spirit.

“I was quite proud of it in fact but now it’s blocked off and guarded with the person saying it’s private and the agreement has ended.”

Ms Chisholm said it’s a very frustrating situation for commuters facing a long travel time into the city.

“People are trying to take the train into the city which is an hour long commute to begin with,” Ms Chisholm said.

“Having to leave extra early to find parking spaces, hopefully, means you’re adding 15-20 minutes onto your very long commute that you don’t need.

“I spoke with the sports club and it was very hush hush, vague.

“There seems to no longer be an agreement but they haven’t seemed to have done anything about telling us.”