Parking fines frustrate commuters

A FRUSTRATED resident says more needs to be done to address the parking crisis at local train stations after her son was fined alongside several other commuters at Leumeah station.

A picture of the cars fined by Campbelltown Council at Leumeah station sent to the Macarthur Chronicle.

A FRUSTRATED woman says more needs to be done to address the parking crisis at local train stations after her son was fined alongside several other commuters at Leumeah station.

Roslyn Bui Viet’s son was returning from Sydney University and was shocked to find a $110 fine on his window for not parking in a marked space.

Mrs Bui Viet’s Facebook post in a community noticeboard attracted hundreds of comments complaining about the state of parking at train stations across the region.

Cars in the last row had plenty of room to back out.

“It was very full at 11am but there were some spaces left in the very far edge of the car park where the grass meets the asphalt. There were about 30 other cars parked along there in the same row,” she said in a letter to Camden state Liberal MP Chris Patterson.

She forwarded a copy to the Macarthur Chronicle.

“There was plenty of space for the next parallel row of cars to back out on leaving.

“I normally would tell him to cop the fine, however, there are many reasons that this fine is extremely unfair, not just to him, but to all the commuters who parked there and all future commuters desperate to find a parking spot.”

Mrs Bui Viet’s post on the community noticeboard.

Mrs Bui Viet said a small ‘park in bays only’ located at the entrance to the car park was inadequate and more could be done to provide parking at the station.

“There is more than enough space for 50 cars to park safely on the far end of the carpark without hindering the access for cars in the next parallel row,” she said.

“Why are there no parking bays here and why is this precious parking space being wasted?”

Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields Labor MPs Greg Warren and Anoulack Chanthivang have been long-time advocates for improved parking at local railway stations.

The State Government has commenced planning for a second commuter carpark at Campbelltown station. No time frame has been released.

Campbelltown Council city development director Jim Baldwin said council had not identified a pattern of illegally parked cars in the are and taht signage had been appropriatley placed.

“Although the parking of vehicles outside of parking bays does occur, Council is not aware of a ‘pattern’,” he said.

“The signage has been erected in accordance with legislative requirements as prescribed under Section 650 of the Local Government Act.

“Council always looks to maximise the number of parking spaces made available within its parking areas, and will investigate to see if there is any opportunity to increase the number of spaces within the subject car park.”