Gold Coast schools: Hundreds of parents fined after council deploy ‘Park Safe’ cars to detect illegal parking

A council blitz using cars fitted with sophisticated cameras has seen hundreds of parents across the Gold Coast cop fines – some for lining up to enter ‘kiss and go’ zones. FULL DETAILS

HUNDREDS of parents have been issued with parking fines after a council blitz at school zones using new ‘Park Safe’ vehicles.

The special cars, which are fitted with sophisticated camera technology, have been attending schools at drop-off and pick-up times since classes resumed on February 7.

To date, 74 patrols have been conducted at 45 Gold Coast schools.

A council spokesperson said the patrols had been prompted by requests or complaints, and that other schools would also be visited.

“It is a priority for the City to manage traffic congestion and safety around schools to achieve a safer environment for children,” the spokesperson said.

“... Schools which have not yet been visited can expect Park Safe patrols in the future.”

Since the start of the year 4967 fines have been issued by Park Safe vehicles. It is not known how many of those fines have been as a result of visits to school zones.

However at Helensvale State School, where four patrols have been conducted since the start of the year, 42 infringement notices have been issued.

Many of the fines were handed to drivers lining up to enter the school’s small ‘kiss and go’ zone on Lindfield Rd, where space is limited to six vehicles.

Suzanne Hall, whose has children in prep and Year 3 at the school, received a $172 fine from council for stopping on a yellow line after being photographed by one of the Park Safe vehicles on March 11.

“It’s quite unreasonable,” Ms Hall said. “It was at two minutes past three, so the bell has just gone, the kids are coming out and I was lined up for the kiss and go.

“The council car just came around and took photos of everyone and gave everyone a $172 fine, which I don’t think is very fair considering we are all working mothers and fathers.”

Andrew Hall and Suzanne Hall with their children Chloe, 8, and Georgia, 5, and at the ‘kiss and go’ zone outside Helensvale State School. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Ms Hall appealed the fine to council, contending that she was not stopped on the yellow line but was in a queue of vehicles that was slowly moving forward.

“They said that I was stopped in a no-stopping area,” she said. “I wrote to them and said I wasn’t stopped, I was moving with the line forward for the kiss and go that you’ve provided.”

Ms Hall’s appealed against the fine was rebuffed. In a letter, council told her that “a vehicle is not permitted to stop on a continuous yellow edge line under any circumstances”.

Amber Wihongi, who has children in Year 2 and Year 4 at the school, has been fined twice while lining up near the kiss and go. Ms Wihongi said she was “over getting the fines”, but parents were in a difficult situation given the limited parking available.

“It’s hard because obviously you’re not meant to be there, but it’s just an impossible situation,” Ms Wihongi said. “The kiss and go only has six spots.

“Sometimes I’m like, oh no I can’t deal with another fine, so I try to drive around look for a car space and I just can’t find one.

“It’s impossible to use the kiss and go and impossible to find a park.

“It’s frustrating me no end.”

Cars lining up near the 'kiss and go' zone at Helensvale State School.

Another parent, Karen Johnston, said she had also received fines for infringements at the school, which has 1005 pupils.

“I’ve been fined twice, once for lining up on the yellow line in the kiss and go and most recently for stopping in a no stopping zone in a side street,” Ms Johnston said.

“In this case I literally stopped the car, walked a couple of metres to check the sign and got back in to move the car when I realised it was no stopping and in this time was fined.”

Council transport committee head Cr Pauline Young previously told the Bulletin deployment of the new Park Safe vehicles was not about raising revenue.

“It is not about revenue raising, it is all about safety,” Cr Young said.

“We have two vehicles so far and more will be coming online soon.”

ALMOST 150 SIGN PETITION CALLING FOR CHANGE

ALMOST 150 people have signed a petition calling for improved drop-off and pick-up facilities at Helensvale State School.

The northern Gold Coast primary school, which is located on a quiet residential street, opened in 1984 with 238 students. It now caters for 1005 pupils

Frustrated parents, many of whom have received parking fines while waiting to pick up their children amid heavy congestion, say parking facilities at the school have not kept pace with that growth.

“The school population has grown but they’ve not grown the infrastructure around it which has led to the problem we’re having today,” parent Suzanne Hall said.

“Something needs to be done for all of us who go there to make it easier, and easier on the residents as well who live there, because they’re getting blocked as well before and after school.

“They need to stop revenue raising and do something about it.”

Cars lined up waiting to pick up children near the 'kiss and go' zone at Helensvale State School.

There is a 37-space car park at the school and a small kiss and go zone, created by council in 2019 by converting 12 car parks at the front of the school after a trial period and consultation with parents.

Council has also recently spent $600,000 upgrading pathways around the school.

Ms Hall said while parents who were trying to do the right thing were unhappy about receiving fines, their greatest concern was the safety of young children amid the chaos.

The Bulletin asked the Department of Education whether it was exploring the possibility of additional parking or a larger kiss-and-go zone at the school.

“Helensvale State School, like all Queensland state schools, places the highest priority on ensuring the safety of all students, staff and members of the school community,” a spokesperson said.

“The principal is working with the P&C, Regional Office and local council to explore a range of options to address parking issues.”

Theodore MP Mark Boothman said he had last week contacted the Department of Transport and Main Roads about the matter.

Division 2 councillor William Owen-Jones said he would be happy to present a petition of parents to council, which would then lead to a report being prepared by city officers.

“Over ten years we have had multiple conversations both with the school and also the P&C to try and get the best outcome we can,” Cr Owen-Jones said.

“If a petition is finalised – and all I need is ten signatures and people’s addresses – a report will be done and any recommendations that come out will be adopted.”

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