Deputy Mayor Donna Gates says parking fine costs should be reviewed after furious response to social media post

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates has made a major promise regarding council parking fines after copping a furious backlash to a social media post. WHAT DO YOU THINK? VOTE IN OUR POLL.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates says the cost of council parking fines should be reviewed after copping a furious backlash to a social media post warning residents about the dangers of being stung.

Cr Gates took to Facebook to warn people in her Division 3 electorate they could be slapped with a ticket if they parked with two wheels on nature strips after noting what she said was a “disturbing” escalation in complaints to her office about fines issued.

A Facebook post regarding council parking fines made by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates.

The message was not well received by locals, who pointed to difficulties caused by narrow streets in many parts of he Coomera-based electorate.

“This regulation is in need of revisiting,” one resident wrote.

“The cost of living (means the number of) share houses has exploded.

“And now people can’t park in their driveways or with their vehicle on the nature strip to allow thoroughfare through streets.

“(It’s) causing chaos and more pressure on household finances facing fines.

“(This is) the result of Gold Coast City Council allowing small blocks and residential housing to explode without looking at surrounding infrastructure.

“Now Council is revenue raising by fining already struggling families because they can’t park their cars!

“(It’s) disgraceful and urgent revision is needed on this.”

The sentiment was shared by more than 50 people who responded to Cr Gates’s post.

“So you jam big homes on small blocks, kids get their licenses and where are they supposed to park,” one resident asked.

“Add narrow roads as well. It’s laughable the revenue council make from ridiculous fines.”

Another wrote: “What a joke. Park on either side of the road in most streets in Upper Coomera/Coomera and no cars are getting through in either direction. That means no ambulances or fire trucks or police.”

The fine for parking on a nature strip was raised to $193 on July 1, up 57 per cent from $110 just two years earlier.

Asked about the issue by the Bulletin, Cr Gates said she understood why people were angry and agreed the high cost of the fines needed reviewing in light of cost of living pressures.

“I would like to think, given the cost of living pressures, we could review that (the cost of fines) in the lead up to this year’s budget adoption,” Cr Gates said.

“Those fees and charges are set annually, and I think people are doing it a little bit more tough than perhaps they were over the last few years and that’s something we could review.

“ ... I’m more than mindful of the people that have contacted me who are going to have difficulty paying a fine and it’s not a pleasant thing to see people struggling at any level, let alone when they’re trying to help the traffic flow when they’re trying to park two wheels up, two wheels down.”

A council rubbish truck which residents earlier this year reported struggled to get down a narrow Oxenford street due to vehicles parked along it. Picture: Robbie Wright/Facebook.

An image posted on social media of a vehicle parked in Pimpama. The driver said they received a parking fine from council.

Cr Gates said she had posted about the issue on social media because she was concerned about the number of people receiving fines and wanted to help residents understand how they could avoid them.

“I feel I’m not doing my job appropriately if I’m not actually warning people about the consequences of parking over the driveway or without the four wheels on the road,” Cr Gates said.

“Because a lot of people think they’re doing the right thing by putting two wheels on the nature strip, never dreaming they’re going to get a ticket.

“ ... I’m not surprised by the feedback, no one likes getting a fine. The reason the post’s there is because I don’t like to see people getting fined.”

A Gold Coast Council Park Safe vehicle.

Cr Gates added that most parking inspections took place after complaints by neighbours, and that officers normally issued warnings before returning at a later date and issuing tickets.

Council last year introduced controversial ‘Park Safe’ vehicles which use roof-mounted cameras to capture images of parked cars as they drive through suburban streets.

Cr Gates acknowledged complaints had risen since the introduction of the vehicles.

She said feedback had been given by councillors to parking officers to ensure there was no “overzealous” enforcement action.

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