MP’s tradies spark verge parking blitz

Residents in a southeast Queensland MP’s street have been left frustrated after being fined by council for parking on their verge due to an increase in tradies in the area.

Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien's neighbours are up in arms over being fined for parking on the verge due to an increase in tradies in the street. Photo: Contributed

RESIDENTS from a Buderim street have been left frustrated after receiving council fines for parking on their narrow road's grass verge.

After houses in the street started undergoing renovations, including one owned by MP Ted O'Brien, residents said the tradesmen began taking up all parking spaces.

Due to the lack of access, residents were left with little choice but to park awkwardly.

The residents complained to council about the lack of access due to the tradesmen, but then were the ones who copped tickets.

Long-term Buderim resident Pat Adcock has lived on the street for 51 years and wants the community to stay the same.

"We just want to be able to stay the same community with our grassy verges and be allowed to park in front of our properties," she said.

"The council told my neighbour to park on the road to avoid being fined but when she did, the trucks couldn't get through so they had to drive on our grass."

Ms Adcock said the council's solution for the parking problem was to recommend getting the road widened.

PARKING: Residents in a Buderim street are being fined by council for parking on the grass verge. Photo: Abbey Cannan

"We don't want to change the street because it is like a park and the children play in the street," she said.

"The problem at the moment is that the big trucks from houses having renovations are coming through and ruining our grass.

"We're a very close and tight-knit community and we all help each other out.

"We just don't want our community destroyed by making the road wider."

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said that after receiving a complaint from a resident on September 25, officers patrolled the street for the following two weeks on 10 occasions, conducting parking education.

Again, on October 22, council received another complaint.

"Since September 25 council has issued three caution notices and one infringement. The infringement was issued to a motorist that had previously been cautioned."

Originally published as MP’s tradies spark verge parking blitz