Whitehorse parking: The Collector’s Coffeehouse Mitcham owner fined repeatedly in front of own cafe

A Mitcham cafe owner whose wife is battling cancer can’t catch a break from council parking inspectors, who are fining him for staying too long in front of his business.

The Collector's Coffee House's Harold and Deb Shugg have copped a string of parking fines from Whitehorse Council for their van parked out the front of their cafe. Picture: Kiel Egging.

A cafe owner whose wife is battling incurable cancer has copped a string of parking fines after hectic trade left him unable to move his van in front of his own store.

Whitehorse Council has booked The Collector’s Coffeehouse’s owner Harold Shugg five times, totalling $460, since Christmas.

Mr Shugg parks his van – decked out with signage – in a one-hour spot in Colombo St to try and attract more customers to his cafe, which is tucked away near Mitcham railway station.

But the installation of controversial parking sensors timing his stay forces him to move the van at least nine times a day to avoid being caught.

With wife Deb not working due to her cancer treatment, Mr Shugg said he was unable to leave the cafe and move his van during busy trade.

He said he had to sell more than 200 coffees to recoup the fines, which were “wallpapering the fridge at home”.

Parking sensors and ruthless inspectors have led to five fines for Harold and Deb Shugg for parking their car in a one-hour zone out the front of their Mitcham cafe. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“I set an alarm on my phone every hour to move the van, but if it happens in the middle of a rush and we’re getting slammed, I can’t get out without p**ing customers off,” he said.

Ms Shugg, who has incurable multiple myeloma, said the situation was “frustrating” and officers had targeted the area over Christmas for what she thought was a deliberate “council cash grab”.

“We’ve done two years of Covid, I’ve got cancer, and now a couple of times a week we’re getting fined just for parking at the front of our shop,” she said.

Harold and Deb Shugg have to move their van nine times a day out the front of their Mitcham cafe, The Collector's Coffee House, to avoid being fined by parking officers. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The council rolled out hundreds of parking sensors in key shopping precincts to crack down on drivers last year, in a move designed to try and rake in an extra $8m in revenue over five years.

It drew the ire of traders at Vermont Village, who feared the sensors would deter customers and lead to a loss in trade.

The Shuggs aired similar concerns, and called for the time limits in spots near their cafe and other businesses to be extended to at least two hours.

“Who wants to go to a coffee shop when if you’re there for an hour and 15 minutes, you get fined,” Ms Shugg said.

“We can do all we can to make their time enjoyable, but in the end, the last thing they (the customer) see is a fine just for being there.”

A Whitehorse Council spokesperson said the one-hour limit was in place for the five spots available on Columbo St to allow for “maximum turnover” for businesses, including the cafe and a number of nearby takeaway shops.

“There are several longer-term parking options available in the area around Colombo St in Mitcham,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the Shuggs could appeal for an internal review of their fines.