Gold Coast uni student may have to miss classes if she can’t find a carpark for fear of copping parking fine

A GOLD COAST university student says she has been forced to skip classes for fear of copping expensive parking fines at an overcrowded train station.

A GOLD COAST university student says she has been forced to skip classes for fear of copping expensive parking fines at the overcrowded Coomera Station.

Melanie James who uses the Coomera Train station daily to travel to university in Brisbane, was shocked when she was hit with a $261 fine on Monday for parking on vacant state land near the overcrowded car park, where commuters and workers on construction of the nearby Westfield shopping centre site have been competing for spaces.

Melanie James was slammed with a fine of $260 for parking at the Coomera train station. Photo by Richard Gosling

PARKING ATTENDANT TOLD OFF FOR HELPING GRIEVING MOTHER AT GCUH

Transport Minister Mark Bailey did not confirm if he would step in to waive the fines of those pinched on Monday.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon said Ms James was among more than 50 fined by TransLink.

Now Ms James says she will have to miss classes if she can’t find any car parks available, to prevent the hefty price of another ticket.

”I always arrive quite early in the morning to catch the train and find a park but as usual there were no car parks,” Ms James said.

Melanie James says she will be forced to skip classes in case she gets another fine. Photo by Richard Gosling

“So I parked on the side of the road like everyone else does when they are out of space.

“It is a safe spot and out of the way of everyone else,” the criminology student said.

“No one is trying to do anything illegal.”

THE GOLD COAST’S WORST PARKERS GALLERY

“It is really annoying, nobody at the train station is trying to be sneaky just trying to get to work.

“I can’t afford to get another ticket so I will be missing lessons if I can’t find a park, there isn’t much of an option,” she said.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon is calling for the fines to be waived.

Member for Coomera Michael Crandon is calling on the State Government to waive the fines until appropriate parking options are put in place.

“You need another 250 car parks there and that is just now,” Mr Crandon said.

“I have already been contacted by several people who were fined yesterday and we will be seeking that they be waived,” he said.

IS THIS COAST’S WORST STREET TO PARK ON?

The member for the area said since construction on the massive Westfield site began the area has become over crowded by commuters and the construction workers struggling to share the space.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey (AAP Image/Aaron Bunch)

“If people were parking in areas where it was dangerous then I would be saying sorry you deserve what you got.

“But these people weren’t inhibiting pedestrian traffic, they were simply trying to get to work and university.

“Since the construction started there has been leeway given to people looking to park on verges or on the side of the road at the Coomera Station.

“We are only days out from Coomera Westfield opening so the area is only going to get busier, we need more car parks created, even if that means just adding a few more lines on the side of the road it doesn’t need to cost a million.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey did not detail plans for any further parking at the Coomera Station.

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He was however aware of the Queensland Rail ticketing blitz against vehicles parked on gardens and turfed areas.

“Those who were parked inappropriately and were fined have the option to contest their penalty by following the directions on the infringement notice,” Minister Bailey said.

“At my request, my department has approached Westfield to see what measures are possible to manage tradespeople using the park n ride inappropriately and we are committed to working with Westfield to achieve positive outcomes for commuters.”

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Westfield Coomera is expected to feature 2100 car spaces which will be free for the first three hours.

The Westfield Coomera spokeswoman was unable to detail what practical steps were being taken to prevent the centre’s staff from using the Coomera park n ride facility.

“Throughout construction, we opened additional free parking areas on-site, incentivised carpooling and encouraged the use of public transport,” the spokeswoman said.

“ We are continuing to advise anyone coming to the centre not to park at Coomera train station and work closely with Queensland Rail to monitor the train station car park. “