Coronavirus NSW: Sydney pizza delivery drivers fined despite Lord Mayor’s relaxed parking rules

A Sydney restaurant operator who has changed his business to takeaway amid the coronavirus crisis says three of his delivery drivers have been hit with parking fines despite Lord Mayor Clover Moore announcing a new parking ticket policy.

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• City of Sydney goes into lockdown
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A Sydney restaurant operator has questioned Clover Moore’s new COVID-19 parking ticket policy after three of his delivery drivers were stung with fines.

Evan Hansimikali, who has switched his eatery Manny’s Pizza Diner to a takeaway and delivery business after shutting his Chippendale restaurant a fortnight ago, copped three separate fines for $114 just after 10pm on Friday night after three delivery drivers parked in a loading zone outside his temporary venue.

It comes two weeks after Sydney mayor Clover Moore issued a statement that parking rangers would only issue fines if there was an ‘imminent health or safety risk’.

Evan Hansimikali has opened a pop-up delivery pizza business in Potts Point. Picture: Chris McKeen

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Hansimikali claims the delivery vehicles were safely parked in a loading zone on O’Connell Street in Point at the rear of the Potts Point Hotel where he is currently operating a ‘delivery pop-up’.

“It was a bit of a shock considering the situation we’re in … along with every other restaurant owner in the world,” said Hansimikali, who shot to some notoriety back in 2005 as the winner of Seven’s short-lived My Restaurant Rules.

His current venue Manny’s Pizza Diner is now staying afloat on takeaway and delivery orders from two kitchens.

“The drivers are international students who couldn’t get any other work.

“I’ve taken on some of the existing staff of the hotel after they had to close.

“The whole thing just blows my mind to be honest given the fact that there is quite literally nowhere else to park.

“Cars aren’t moving. The city is in lockdown. No one is moving their cars. So what are we supposed to do?”

Hansimikali says he plans to dispute the three fines with City of Sydney’s infringement arm Revenue NSW.

It comes two weeks after Moore’s statement that rangers would not issue regular fines during the coronavirus crisis so as not to add to the ‘financial burden’ of ratepayers.

“They’ll still be enforcing if needed – so don’t abuse the privilege (like illegally parking in a disabled spot),” the Lord Mayor wrote in a tweet on March 20.

A City of Sydney spokesman said the council had made it clear when it announced a relaxed approach to parking enforecment, that all vehicles had to be parked legally.

“The delivery bikes were parked in an area marked as a loading zone from 7am-6pm and a no parking zone at all other times. The vehicles were booked at 10.26pm,” the spokesman said.

“However, given the current circumstances, the penalty notices will be withdrawn and a warning will be given instead.

“Our rangers have spoken to the business owner and asked that they park their vehicles legally from now on.”