Frankston Council parking officers ‘target’ footy fans at swanky new Seaford sports ground
Celebrations were short-lived for a drought-breaking footy team after supporters were slapped with $110 fines by “predatory” Frankston parking inspectors.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fans of a long-suffering footy club have lashed out at Frankston Council’s “predatory parking inspectors” who booked 14 cars at a packed Seafood ground for parking on the nature strip.
Euphoric supporters of Mornington Peninsula Netball Football League’s club Devon Meadows Panthers returned to their cars after a historic Division 2 win at R F Miles Reserve, Seaford on Saturday, August 13 to find they had been slapped with $110 fines.
The cars were illegally parked on a nature strip along Seaford Road.
Past president Barry Parson was fined and said the action was a “cheap shot”.
“We feel like we were targeted; like the parking spectators were being predatory because they knew it would be a big game,” Mr Parsons said.
However, Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy said parking officers were responding to complaints from locals and the fines were issued to vehicles “dangerously parked” along Seaford Road.
“Council officers were also approached by several members of the community while issuing
infringements thanking them for taking action as they were concerned about the dangers
posed by the parking,” he said.
“Officers could have issued more infringements, however chose to only issue infringements to those deemed dangerous or clearly a breach of legislation.”
The game was the first time the Panthers had played Seaford Tigers at home since the reserve was redeveloped.
“In the past we’ve been able to park all around the oval. But now you can’t do that and there are only about 40 official car parks at the ground,” Mr Parsons said.
“There aren’t any signs warning you not to park there.
“We thought we were doing the right thing by not parking in the (nearby) Woolies carpark and upsetting their business.”
Mr Conroy said like many sports grounds across Melbourne, there was limited parking for event days.
“There is parking available in surrounding streets and at the Seaford railway station, which is a short walk from the ground,” he said.
The $9.1 million revamp of R F Miles Reserve was finished in mid-2021 and Seaford football and netball clubs were able to return to their home ground.
The sports hub had been out of action during the Seaford Rd level removal crossing, when the site was used for works.
The revamped grounds include a two-storey pavilion, larger oval, new netball court, new cricket nets, carparking, oval lighting, a scoreboard and a coaches box.
In 2021 Frankston Council was found to have improperly used private contractors to review infringements and was forced to pay back 8500 in parking fines issued between November 2008 and April 2014.
