Nature strip parking: Montmorency South parents furious over flurry of fines from Banyule Council

PARENTS have been stunned to cop a total of more than $3000 in fines in a month for parking on what they describe as a “crushed dirt” shoulder near a primary school in Melbourne’s north.

The council issued 33 fines worth $93 each in a month to parents parking on this gravel shoulder. Picture: Mark Wilson

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A REVENUE-RAISING tactic by Banyule Council is putting the lives of young children at risk, according to a group of angry parents.

Scarce carparking options around Montmorency South Primary School have forced parents to park on what they describe as a “crushed rock and dirt” shoulder on Reichelt Ave, between Grand Blvd and McCarthy Grove.

HAVE YOUR SAY: What do you think of the fines? Tell us below.

People have parked their cars there for almost a decade without issue.

However, four weeks ago Banyule Council began fining parents for parking on the site, which they say is part of the nature strip and is illegal to park on.

Inspectors dished out 33 infringement notices at $93 a pop in the past month and warned parents to ensure all four wheels were parked on the road surface.

Montmorency mums Andrea Bowman and Tanya Allison with their kids on the gravel shoulder that the council claims is part of a nature strip. Picture: Mark Wilson

Mother of three Tanya Allison was one of those who got fined.

She said if parents heeded the council’s warning, children would be forced to jump on to the middle of the road and into oncoming traffic. It would also inhibit traffic flow.

“It comes down to revenue raising and complete disregard for the safety of the children,”
Ms Allison said.

“I’ve never parked in a no-standing zone or someone’s nature strip and that’s because we try to avoid it by parking on that section of the road.”

Parents challenged the council on its decision to dish out fines and received a response stating the penalties “will not be withdrawn”.

Parents say that people have parked on the shoulder for almost a decade with no problems. Picture: Mark Wilson

However, when Diamond Valley Leader quizzed the council about the fines, city development director Scott Walker said fines issued for parking on the nature strip would be waived and a warning would be issued instead.

But the council didn’t rule out fining drivers in the future, saying it would investigate “ways to clarify the parking situation so motorists better understand the road rules”.

“While it is acknowledged that the nature strip in this section of Reichelt Ave is in poor condition, it is in such a state due to the continual driving and parking of vehicles on it,” Mr Scott said.

“The area has not been designed for dropping off or picking up children and improvements would need to occur to ensure that this can happen in a safe way.”

Almost 100 people have signed a change.org petition calling on the council to declare the gravel section a road shoulder.

You can view or sign the petition by clicking HERE.