Council budget papers show parking fines and fees will generate $23m in revenue this year

PARKING fines could spike again after a recent increase failed to deter motorists and instead resulted in a record revenue for the Gold Coast City Council.

QLD_GCB_NEWS_PARKINGTICKETS_15JUN15_SPILLMAN

PARKING fines could increase again to deter motorists from stopping illegally as new figures reveal the council will this year rake in record revenue.

Parking fines and fees are on track to bring in nearly $23 million, up from $17.4m the previous year.

However the data, to be discussed at a meeting today, does not say whether the larger fines have succeeded in their goal of deterring illegal parking and resulted in fewer tickets being issued.

Parking fees increased by 10c an hour from July 1 while most fines increased by $20 each, with the exception of illegally using disabled spots which doubled from $150 to $300.

Southport Councillor Dawn Crichlow said motorists who park illegally should be slapped with even higher fines.

Cr Crichlow said she would push for an increase in fines as long as the money went towards the council’s $55 million contribution to the light rail’s second stage.

“The money would help pay for a large portion of our contribution towards the rail which has proven such a winner in getting cars off the road and moving people around more easily,” she said.

“It is all about educating the public about what is allowed and where it is allowed.”

According to budget documents which will go before councillors this afternoon, revenue from regulated parking, which includes fines and fees, is expected to exceed $22.9 million this financial year.

Despite a $3.9 million spike in expenses linked with the introduction of the new parking system, the council’s coffers still come out ahead with a net profit of $9.4 million, up from $7.8 million the previous year.

Council community services boss Bob La Castra denied the fee and fine increases were solely revenue raisers.

“The increase in the actual fee charges have not been excessive by any means and it is only a small increase,” he said.

“We have made a big investment in the new parking system and that has to be paid for while the money does go back into public transport infrastructure so it is not like it is being insulated and spent on other things.”

A council spokeswoman said the increased revenue raised would go towards funding projects across the Gold Coast.

“The majority of the revenue is used for transport infrastructure projects as part of the City Transport Program while revenue from Broadwater Parklands is retained for maintenance of that area,” she said.

“The anticipated revenue increase attributed to the new technology is less than 9 per cent of total revenue.”

And the income could increase next financial year, with the State Government to again review fine values.

Tom Bleier, head of the Residencies and Ratepayers association says he did not disagree with council gaining revenue as long as it helped keep rates down. Pic Tim Marsden

Gold Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association president Tom Bleier said the increased fees had impacted on traders.

“Increasing costs is not good for local businesses but if they do help keep rates down then the revenue is good,” he said.

“People need to pay money to council no matter what but as long as the money is used for the right things then I don’t necessarily object to it.”