Lack of parking spaces attributes to rise in the number of parking fines issued

A councillor says up to 1000 new carpark spaces are needed at a busy train station north of Brisbane to keep up with demand. It follows a rise in the number of parking fines handed out.

Rangers dished out 454 tickets to people parking in Caboolture, the highest number across the region last year. Picture: Chris Higgins

A councillor says up to 1000 new carpark spaces are needed at a busy train station north of Brisbane to keep up with demand. It comes after an increase in the number of council issued parking fines.

Moreton Bay Regional Council issued 1509 parking infringements in 2018, an increase on the 1393 issued in 2017.

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Many of the fines were dished out in suburbs along a train line.

A council spokesman said the most common parking offence across the region, which spans from Redcliffe, to Strathpine, Caboolture and Bribie Island, was exceeding the parking time limit.

Fines were also handed out to motorists who ignored no parking signs, failed to park within the lines, contravened a no stopping sign or parked on a footpath or nature strip.

Rangers dished out 454 tickets to people parking in Caboolture, the highest number across the region last year.

Lack of parking in North Lakes causes people to park on spare allotments. Picture Chris Higgins

There were 237 handed out in North Lakes, down from the 365 the year before, and 227 in Redcliffe.

Councillor Adrian Raedel (Div 12), whose division covers parts of Caboolture, said he was not surprised by the figures.

“There is certainly a need for more parking,” he said.

Cr Raedel said more parking around Caboolture train station would go a long way to fixing the issues in the CBD.

Top 10 highest suburbs for fines in 2018

Total of 1509 fines issued by Moreton Bay Regional Council

1. Caboolture — 454 (492 in 2017)

2. North Lakes — 237 (365 in 2017)

3. Redcliffe — 227 (200 in 2017)

4. Dakabin — 59 (30 in 2017)

5. Griffin — 42 (28 in 2017)

6. Strathpine — 37 (37 in 2017)

7. Morayfield — 24 (42 in 2017)

8. Petrie — 29 (30 in 2017)

9. Murrumba Downs — 14 (27 in 2017)

10. Warner — 9 (23 in 2017)

“Parking around Caboolture train station is at a premium,” he said.

“As a business you are expected to provide customer’s carparks, the State Government should be expected to do the same for those using the train.”

Cr Raedel said commuters were often left with no choice but to use the council carpark near the council chambers and library.

He said most of these car parks were for three or five hours, with a few all day parks.

Cr Raedel said council staff often had to shift cars in the carpark at least once a day to avoid a ticket.

Parking around Dakabin train station has long been an issue.

He said hundreds if not a 1000 extra carparks were needed at Caboolture train station to fix the problem.

Among the other suburbs with high amounts of fines were Dakabin (59 fines), Strathpine (37), Morayfield (24), Petrie (29) and Murrumba Downs (14) — all suburbs along a train line.