Eastland staff threatened with parking fines after using customer carpark while privately shopping

STAFF at a major eastern suburbs shopping centre are being threatened with fines for parking in customer spots while there privately shopping.

A Penrith City Council ranger books cars in the Allen Place Car park ... Generic / Fines / Parking / Infringement Notice.

STAFF at Eastland are being threatened with fines for parking in customer spots while at the centre privately shopping.

Coles worker Samuel Byrne was one of several workers to receive a letter, warning him not to park in customer-only areas with a staff sticker.

Staff at the Ringwood shopping centre are required to park on the rooftop at level 4 in a designated area when at work.

The letter from Point Parking, which manages Eastland parking, said: “All activity is monitored by registered users and all non-compliant use may result in unavoidable fines.”

But Mr Byrne said he was a customer, not a worker, at the time and was shopping at the centre for two hours — well within the four-hour limit.

“I know of four or five other staff members from Coles have received them and almost everyone knows of many others having received the letter,” he said.

“People feel threatened and helpless.”

Mr Byrne is also calling for more parking to be made available for staff.

He said the designated area was not in a safe nor practical location for workers who finished after centre closing times.

“It involves walking along Warrandyte Rd and through five levels of poorly lit parking lots with no cameras or security,” Mr Byrne said.

He has written to Point Parking but is yet to receive a response.

Paid parking was expected to be introduced in late-February but has been delayed until “later in the year”.

Eastland general manager Steve Edgerton said the staff carpark had sufficient spaces.

“Should a staff member visit Eastland as a customer, they are welcome to park in our guest car parking spaces,” Mr Edgerton said.

He did not rule out the possibility of a daily staff parking fee being introduced later this year.

Maroondah Council, which issues parking fines in the area, has been contacted for comment.