Redland Bay anger brews as fines issued for parking at site of teen horror crash at Weinam Creek ferry terminal

Thousands of dollars in fines have been issued to bay island residents who have parked at a congested ferry terminal where a teen was critically injured, despite a “phantom vigilante” striving to warn drivers.

A “phantom vigilante” has failed to stop dozens of people copping fines for parking on a congested street near a busy ferry terminal, where a teen was critically injured in a crash at Easter.

Redland Bay teen Carlo Medina is still recovering from brain and chest injuries he received after being knocked off his bicycle in Moore’s Rd on Good Friday in April.

Police launched a crackdown on illegal parking and have fined dozens of motorists for parking on the side of a road near Redland Bay’s Weinam Creek ferry terminal.

In the past month, dozens of bay island residents have copped fines averaging $70 for parking on Moore’s Rd.

The fines came after a “phantom” resident stuck “no parking” signs on cars alerting motorists not to park on Moore’s Rd, despite no yellow road markings on the kerb.

The phantom’s notices said “Please do not park here, it’s a safety concern. Small boy struck by car recently due to restricted vision.”

Other notices stuck on cars by the phantom included a red “no standing” circle.

The once-quiet residential street has been transformed into a busy traffic thoroughfare that leads into Redland City Council’s congested Weinam Creek ferry terminal carpark.

Fines have been issued to unsuspecting bay island residents who have parked on the street outside the ferry terminal.

Police have been patrolling parking at the congested terminal with fines ranging from $57 to $70 electronic infringement notices issued along with $143.75 fines issued by the council.

Angry island residents complained that there were no yellow lines on the kerb and no signs clearly defining the no parking zone.

They also said the “phantom” Redland Bay resident had been leaving messages on windscreens tipping off drivers that police were patrolling the area.

“I came back to my car and found the fine on my windscreen — it’s so unfair as there is nowhere else for island residents to leave their vehicles on the mainland as the council car park is full, especially on weekends,” one Macleay Island resident said.

“There are two signs pointing out the no stopping zone but they are nowhere near where I parked and do not easily identify the zone they are outlining and there is no kerbside yellow line.

“We believe a concerned local resident is putting ‘No standing’ signs on our cars to warn us it is a dangerous area to park — but we have no other choice, we have to park there.

“I suspect it is the same person who put notices under the windscreen wipers of cars on the other side of the street to where the fines were issued last week alerting car owners to not park there either because of restricted vision.”

Redland City Council and Redland MP Kim Richards did not questions about what actions would be taken to alleviate the dangerous parking situation at the Redland Bay terminal.

A ‘phantom’ has been putting warning signs on cars parked illegally at the Weinam Creek ferry terminal at Redland Bay, near where a teen was critically injured in April. Many who have parked at the terminal have received police and council fines.

Redland Bay resident Junita Grosvenor said it was inadequate to only have one sign in both directions on Moore’s Rd warning motorists to slow down for cyclists and the lack of parking for the ferry terminal was dangerous.

She said both the council and the state failed to plan for the area’s expansion but were still taxing residents, who did not deserve to have dangerous traffic congestion in residential streets and nowhere to park.

“Island commuters are racing to get a park and then walk the 15 minutes from Moore’s Rd carpark to the Redland Bay ferry terminal, so they don’t miss their ferry back home,” she said.

“Traffic and lack of parking is going to be worse when the state government’s Economic Development Queensland approves a boat ramp in Moore’s Rd carpark and a hospital opens in the area.

“The council is also constructing the Redlands Sea Dragons clubhouse and storage shed at Moore’s Rd carpark at ratepayers’ expense.

“The boat ramp and the Seadragons clubhouse will contribute to the loss of hundreds more islander carparks and we expect more serious crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.”

Russell Island Development Association president Ian Olsson said building a boat ramp between a new hospital and a medium residential waterfront estate was a recipe for disaster.

“The residential estate and hospital at Weinam Creek will need upwards of 200 car spaces and the overflow car park is already full – what next?”

The Redland Bay family of the injured teen said he was recuperating at home after spending months at Ronald McDonald House at South Brisbane and in hospital.

He has been keeping a busy rehabilitation schedule meeting with top-level sportsmen and Broncos who have visited him while he recovers.

His family needs $50,000 to modify their cars for wheelchair access and started a GoFundMe Page to raise cash.

So far they have $48,000.