Council campaign haunts resident previously excused from parking on kerb

A resident of a narrow road north of Brisbane has called foul after council issued a fresh warning letter over his parking – after previously having excused him – despite the alternative meaning he would be breaking the law and potentially putting lives at risk.

Steven Lovli with a council letter warning against illegal parking at his Denham Crescent property in North Lakes. Picture: Marcel Baum

A RESIDENT in the north of Brisbane who had a parking fine waived for kerbside parking has safety concerns after receiving a council letter for the same issue.

Steven Lovli was fined for “polite parking” at his Denham Crescent property in North Lakes in 2014 but had the infringement overturned after speaking out.

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Five years later Mr Lovli was unimpressed when a letter recently arrived at the same residence threatening fines should he continue to park on the kerb.

“It feels like groundhog day, it’s the same thing...ridiculous,” he said.

“If you park the way they want you to emergency vehicles wouldn’t be able to get through.

“And even if they try and get people to move their cars how are you going to find everyone?

“If you were to have a heart attack, you’d be dead.

“And even the rubbish trucks wouldn’t be able to get around, and they’re council-employed.

“Before they let you have two wheels off the road but now you have to be completely on the road.”

Vehicles parked opposite one another with all wheels on the road on Denham Crescent in North Lakes. Picture: Marcel Baum

The North Lakes News confirmed the distance between two cars parked with all wheels on the road opposite one another on Denham Crescent measured 2.5m from wheel to wheel.

Mr Lovli’s neighbour barely managed to thread her sedan through the gap.

According to Moreton Bay Regional Council parking regulations, 3m of clear space must be maintained between vehicles, which would make parking in this manner illegal on Denham Crescent.

“People aren’t going to abide by that and won’t know that law,” Mr Lovli said.

“How many people are going to know that there needs to be 3m between vehicles?

“And if that’s the case the road should be wide enough to accommodate two vehicles parked across from one another.”

“And how many people have just one car nowadays? Kids have got cars and they live at home so households can easily have three cars.”

In 2014 Moreton Bay Regional Council cancelled Steven Lovli's fine for "polite parking".

Council has been handing out warning letters in recent weeks in a campaign against illegal parking.

“Fines are issued if local laws officers deem there is an immediate public safety risk, illegal or dangerously parked vehicles,” a council spokesman said.

“People who make the decision to park on a road must do so in accordance with the legal parking requirements under the Transport Operations Regulations.

“The Queensland road rules allow motorists to park on both sides of the road.

“However, they must leave at least 3m of clear roadway between their vehicle and other parked vehicles, dividing strips, traffic islands or unbroken driving lines.”

A parking regulations graphic displaying a 3m requirement of clear space. Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Mr Lovli bemoaned poor planning and questioned why the issue has been revived.

“They should have built these places properly to start with instead of going after heaps of rates,” he said.

“They’ve left us alone for years; we haven’t seen nor heard from them since 2014 but now they seem to be ramping up again.

“I think everyone should be left alone, frankly.

“No one is doing any harm.”

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Mr Lovli said council trees planted on the kerb on Denham Crescent disrupts residents from using the sidewalk, with prams routinely walked in the road.

The exasperated resident questioned how parking on the verge differed from having to avoid the trees.