Dodgy Facebook page flogging Northern Beaches parking permits
The private group claims to be selling “fancy pens” — but a closer look reveals the only items for sale are exclusive parking stickers on the peninsula.
NSW
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A Facebook group claiming to sell “fancy pens” has been sprung trading valuable Northern Beaches car parking permits.
The page, titled “Northern Beaches Fancy Pen Sales — and anything else”, has more than 1,500 members and is receiving dozens of posts a day from people selling the permits for more than $100 each.
The permits, which are issued to local ratepayers, are considered a “golden ticket” on the Peninsula, as they allow someone to park at 40 locations around beaches for free.
Two exclusive parking stickers are issued to Northern Beaches property owners every year.
Without the permit, parking at Manly Beach costs $50.50 for five hours. Palm Beach is roughly $40.
According to the most recently available annual report, Northern Beaches Council collects $18 million from parking fees and parking fines every year.
One post on the page reads “very fancy pens for sale — $130 each. 6 permits available. Cash on pick up.”
In the photo attached to the post the council permits are clearly visible.
Another post containing a photo of a permit says “selling pen. $120 pick up on the lower north shore.”
It’s understood Northern Beaches Council regularly receives complaints over the ownership of the parking stickers, including disputes between owners and renters.
As a result, the council will soon switch to a digital parking permit system.
A spokesperson for Northern Beaches Council said they were “aware the parking permits were being traded on social media”, but warned that the terms and conditions indicated “they must not be sold or transferred between vehicles.”
The council said anyone caught selling the parking permits may lead to them being cancelled.
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