Gold Coast rail stations: why locals want illegal parking fines waived

The State Government is being asked to waive fines for illegal parking at Gold Coast railway stations. The reason why is surprising.

PLEAS have been made to the State Government to waive fines for illegal parking at Gold Coast railway stations because it cannot guarantee enough spaces.

Commuters are continuing to face one-off fines of $262 for parking their vehicles off the allocated paved spaces at the Coomera station.

A survey by Coomera MP Michael Crandon has confirmed the increased pressure on station parking, with 33 cars counted as illegally parked at the Coomera station in October last year, 65 in February and 85 in late March.

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Melanie James, one of the commuters furious after being fined. Photo by Richard Gosling

Surveying at Ormeau station in February and March showed more than 90 illegal parks by midmorning. In one instance, 106 vehicles were parked outside the full car park by 11.30am on March 6.

Mr Crandon has written to Transport Minister Mark Bailey after a resident paid for a fine that was imposed when his son had no choice but to park in an illegal area off the car park at the Coomera station to ensure he reached an important appointment in Brisbane.

“The parking was always tight at Coomera but with the new town centre it is terrible,” the resident told the MP.

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Overcrowding at the car park at Coomera Railway Station.

“I see people parking at the station and walking into the centre. I am sure there is something that can be done in terms of shopping centre patrons using the station car park.”

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Mr Crandon asked that the fine for the Katinka Circuit resident be waived, much like complaints were not pursued in October last year after public outrage from residents.

Some fines were waived because Transport bureaucrats discovered construction workers, unable to find parks, were using the rail station spaces.

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Coomera MP Michael Crandon talking about congestion on ramps near the M1 — a new railway station at Pimpama could help reduce the problem.

“These cars are parked in a safe way, in a safe area within the Coomera rail station and as I understand it, there have been no incidents regarding people finding an informal place to park,” Mr Crandon said.

His surveying showed informal parking continued to occur at both stations, but vacant land at Ormeau Station enabled most drivers to park legally.

The Coomera MP has asked for a review of all car park fines at the Coomera rail station and “that clemency be given to all patrons” until the station car park is upgraded.

EXTRA PARKING AT ORMEAU STATION WHILE COOMERA STATION SUFFERS

Melanie James was slammed with a fine of $260 for parking at the Coomera train station. She's not happy. Photo by Richard Gosling

Mr Bailey told The Bulletin: “The parking issues Mr Crandon complains about stem from his own LNP’s cuts to infrastructure when they were in power. The Newman LNP cut $600 million from transport infrastructure and took the growing northern Gold Coast region for granted.”

Labor was investing more than $114 million for park ‘n’ ride facilities across the south east and had “cut fares to support commuters”

Detailed design for additional car parks for Ormeau station was underway with the department looking at opportunities to improve parking at Coomera Station.

“Anyone who wishes to challenge parking infringements has the option to discuss their fine by following directions on the infringement notice,” he said.