Funfields Themepark to pay parking fines, sparking council conflict

The owner of a popular Whittlesea water theme park has won praise for paying his customers’ parking fines worth more than $3000 - but the council says it had a good reason for issuing them.

The Funfields carpark was packed on January 28, causing many people to receive parking fines. Picture: Hamish Blair

Conflict is rising between a well-loved water theme park and a local council in Melbourne’s north, after the council issued thousands of dollars in parking fines to customers.

Whittlesea Council issued 38 fines to Funfields Themepark customers on January 28, totalling more than $3000, as the carpark became too busy and forced visitors to park on the grass nature strip.

In response, Funfields has offered to pay all of the parking fines, spreading the message to their customers over social media.

The weather on the scorching Saturday reached a top of 34 degrees, making the water park a popular destination but causing parking problems.

A statement from a Whittlesea Council spokesperson linked the customers who parked on the nature strip to a road accident that happened on the same day, near the Funfields carpark, where a car struck another car exiting the carpark and multiple people were taken to hospital.

“Parking on the nature strip outside Funfields is dangerous as it blocks the views of cars exiting onto the busy Plenty Rd,” the spokesperson said.

But Funfields managing director Angelo Dinardo disputed the claim that the accident was linked to the cars on the naturestrip that day.

“That car accident had nothing to do with the cars being parked on that nature strip,” Mr Dinardo said.

“The two were not linked at all, I spoke to two police officers on the day, I was there.

“The (driver) was attempting to turn right when they should only turn left out of our driveway,” he said.

The nature strip outside Funfields does not have any signage, but Whittlesea Council said it planned to change this and work with Funfields to improve traffic management.

“While nature strips are not usually signposted we will be erecting further signage outside Funfields to ensure it is made very clear that parking is not permitted on the nature strip,” a spokesperson said.

Mr Dinardo said the decision to pay the parking fines was simple.

“It’s customer service 101, it’s just customer service,” he said.

“We’re working with the council at the moment, so hopefully it doesn’t happen again.

“All we’re concerned about is moving forward.”

A post on social media sharing the news that customers fines would be paid by the park many people praise the decision and others condemn the council for issuing the fines.

“Shame, shame shame on the council – after everything people have been through, loss of businesses, loss of jobs, (cost of) food skyrocketing, gas, electric bills – it’s an absolute disgrace,” one person said.

“Incredibly generous of you, a stand out business looking after its patrons,” another person said.

“Considering all that Funfields provides for the local community – visitors, jobs for locals, revenue for local businesses etc – the council should feel fortunate to have such a place that puts them on the map … but nope, this is how the local council treat them,” another said.