Rise in illegal, dangerous parking in Sydney’s Inner West prompts council crackdown

A rise in illegal and dangerous parking has prompted one Sydney council to clamp down on dodgy parkers, with an educational campaign and “quick response unit” planned to cleanse the streets.

A Mercedes parked in a no-stopping area in Newtown. The local government area saw a rise in illegal or dangerous parking in 2022.

A rise in illegal and dangerous parking has prompted one Sydney council to clamp down – literally and metaphorically – on dodgy parkers, funding an educational campaign and a “quick response unit” to cleanse the streets.

Figures released by the Inner West Council show a 10 per cent rise in illegal and dangerous parking by drivers across the local government area (LGA) this year, with almost 6000 reported cases of poor parking.

Parked cars blocking driveways or loading docks rose by 10 per cent in the 12-month period, dangerous parking rose by nine per cent, and overstaying ticketed or timed parking spiked by 14 per cent. Council has received 5930 reported parking complaints so far this year, about 600 more than last year.

The dodgy parking epidemic has spread across the city, with Waverley Council issuing a 21 per cent rise in fines for cars obstructing driveways, as well as a 35 per cent rise in infringements for motorists for ticket timed parking offences.

In Parramatta, council recorded a 22 per cent increase in timed parking offences, 22 per cent in ticket parking offences, and 53 per cent in other offences, including parking in driveways, no-stopping zones and too close to intersections. North Sydney Council handed out less fines on some parking infringements, but dished out a 120 per cent more tickets for cars parking within 10m of an intersection.

A motorbike parked on the pavement in Newtown.

A parked car more than 1m past no-stopping zone on a turning in Newtown.

Inner West locals took matters into their own hands in September, with one frustrated Newtown resident leaving a note telling one driver who blocked their driveway – in no uncertain terms – “DO NOT park here again, this is a driveway you dumb f**k”.

Inner West councillor Liz Atkins, whose motion instigated the report, welcomed council’s plans. “A 10 per cent increase (in parking infringements) is significant, especially when the majority is related to blocked driveways and other obstructions,” Cr Atkins said.

“Blocking driveways and garages can be more than an inconvenience, it can make it unsafe for people to leave their homes, and obstructions to footpaths are an accessibility issue.

“People can’t just assume they can park wherever they want.”

As part of the plans, Inner West residents will be retaught the parking basic with council set to conduct an educational campaign to give drivers a parking refresh.

The campaign will include flyers, posters, and leaflets, as well as “drip feeding illegal parking stories” to highlight the worst parking offences.

Angry Newtown resident leaves a clear note for someone obstructing their driveway in September. Picture: Supplied

Council will also explore using new reporting processes and a “quick-response unit” to aid rangers catch illegal parking.

Boat trailers and caravans parked for lengthy periods in valuable spots are also in council’s sights, with new legislation recently introduced by the state government giving rangers more powers, including the removal of unattended vehicles parked in the same place for 43 days, the immediate compounding of trailers and caravans obstructing access and footpaths, and the issuing of fines up to $660.

“With almost 2000 requests relating to abandoned vehicles we know this is a big problem in the Inner West,” councillor Kobi Shetty said.

“I am glad there is now a mechanism to deal with boats and trailers parked long term, which take up valuable parking spots in our local streets.”

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said although there was more leniency by councils to parking infringements in 2021 due to Covid lockdowns, the recent uptick in parking fines and offences was worrying.

“We know some councils provided hardship causes during the lockdown periods, particularly around hospitals,” he said.

“But the increase in the number of parking fines issued is worrying, and we would like to see the trend reversed as quickly as possible.”