Altandi Station parking woes worsen
COMMUTERS will be fined if they continue parking in the streets around a busy train station on Brisbane’s southside. Parking limits will be enforced in a bid to stop commuters clogging suburban streets.
Southeast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southeast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
COMMUTERS will be fined $130 if they continue parking in the streets around a busy train station on Brisbane’s southside.
Parking limits will be enforced near Sunnybank’s Altandi Station in a bid to stop commuters clogging suburban streets.
Residents near the station have battled the problem since 2014, when the train timetable changed to make Altandi the main station between Loganlea and Park Road on the Gold Coast/Airport express service.
The change was made to improve connectivity with bus services to the CBD, University of Queensland and Griffith University.
Prior to that the stop was nearby Coopers Plains.
The demand for car parks continues to increase near Altandi Station and has led to verbal clashes between residents and commuters.
Parked vehicles have been damaged by other cars squeezing along narrow, clogged streets and residents say access is often blocked by commuter vehicles.
Rubbish bins are often missed on collection days because the garbage truck cannot gain access.
Passenger numbers have more than doubled at Altandi Station since 2012 — the biggest growth in southeast Queensland, according to a right to information request by public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track.
While the parking woes are not a Brisbane City Council issue, Cr Kim Marx (Runcorn) has stepped in.
“(State Government) didn’t do any community consultation (because) they didn’t have to,” Cr Marx said.
“The fallout has been huge as a result of that decision. “It is affecting all the residents. The easiest solution is to change the timetable back — maybe I am making it simple.”
Within the next eight weeks, No Parking signs, which will be effective from 7am-9am Monday to Friday, will be erected in four nearby streets.
She said it had been a painstaking and long process but parking restriction would be put in place in Wana, Tarrawonga, Lampson, and Maud streets.
Cr Marx has already dealt with issues at Alconah St.
“The problem will just shift and move out wider and wider,” she said.
Cr Marx wants the State Government to create additional carparking on the land they own on Gundooee St.
What residents think
Altandi Precinct Commuter Parking Action Group spokesman Chris Seen said more than 250 vehicles were parked in streets near Altandi Station every day.
He said vehicles overflowed from the minimal parking at the station, “causing traffic congestion and inconveniencing residents”.
APCPAG has conducted a number of commuter surveys.
“Residents are expected to suffer in silence while their streets are used for carparking while the State Government ignores its responsibility to provide park ‘n’ ride car parks,” Mr Seen said.
“Residents are angry with their neighbourhood being used as a de facto park ‘n’ ride car park.
“If we give up then nothing will happen, so we will push on and get encouragement from other groups and lobbyists who will support us in getting the outcome we need.”
MP Peter Russo weighs in on the issue
Labor State Member for Toohey Peter Russo said senior officers from TransLink recently met with Sunnybank residents living near Altandi Station to discuss access issues.
“As a result of this feedback, TransLink will undertake a planning study to consider possible access improvements for all modes, including investigating land availability to determine whether there may be any feasible options for park ‘n’ ride expansion,” he said.
“People in the area are upset with the congestion caused by cars parking in the vicinity of the station.
“I will need to work with Cr Kim Marx to sort this out.
“The problem can’t be sorted by one arm of government it will need both arms of government working together to solve this complex issue.
“I will continue to lobby both my government and continue to speak to the residents and Cr Marx to reach a solution. It is not something that can be solved overnight.”
What TransLink says
A TransLink spokesman said: “Altandi Train Station had become an attractive interchange and boarding location for rail services.
“This is because Gold Coast trains stop there regularly and high frequency, all-day bus routes 130 and 140 also connect there,” he said.
“Altandi Train Station has 87 car parks and is also serviced by several local feeder buses. “Transfers between bus and rail have grown by 25 per cent since 2014.
“Acquiring school land for a park ‘n’ ride expansion is not currently under consideration.
“The Queensland Government is committed to improving park ‘n’ ride facilities, with more than 30,000 spaces available across the southeast Queensland network and a $114 million investment to deliver another 2300 new spaces.”
Council, police evict 50 campers from city park
More than 50 people living in tents and vans have been evicted from a southeast Queensland park after police and council rangers enforced a final warning to vacate.
Knitting queen named Qld’s kindest person
Logan’s Pamela Tatt, founder of Knit 4 Charities, has been named Queensland’s finalist in the national search for Australia’s kindest person, organised by retailer Black Pepper.