Strip of trouble

By Melissa Meehan
SIDESWIPED twice out the front of her home, Lyn Reade says she has no option but to park on her nature strip.
But when she read in the News last week that she would be fined, she was outraged and called on the council to supply extra parking bays in residential areas.
“We have lived in the City of Casey for 17 years and have no option but to park on the nature strip,” she said.
“Councillor Aziz’s comment ‘parking on a nature strip causes issues for other road users and pedestrians’ is true under certain circumstances, but he fails to address the fact that parking on narrow streets causes issues too.”
Ms Reade said her car had been sideswiped twice when parked on the road, and while she didn’t blame the council, believed it was a result of poor town planning allowing developers to build estates with narrow streets.
“There are plenty of estates in our city that fall into that category and I’d like to know why the council didn’t insist on the developer putting in sufficient parking in the first place.”
She admits parking on her nature strip has caused damage, but said she had offered to reinforce the ground under the nature strip and re-lay the grass and the council said that was unacceptable.
“The council has informed us that our only option is to put an extra parking bay in at our own expense – this would cost around $4000,” she said.
“If we do this, we’ll still have to get the council’s approval and the $4000 doesn’t include the planning application fee.”
She said the best solution for all living in Casey would be for the council to accept responsibility for the lack of planning foresight.
“The council should admit it’s ultimately their responsibility for all the narrow streets and supply extra parking bays where they are needed – that’s in front of most houses.”
City of Casey Manager Community Safety Caroline Bell said the Road Safety Road Rules 2009 state clearly that it is an offence to park on a nature strip, unless exempt.
“Exemption occurs if there is a sign allowing the parking to take place, if the vehicle is a motorcycle and is not obstructing, or if the vehicle is being used for the purpose of operating a detection device (speed camera),” Ms Bell said.
“Council uses discretion when enforcing any legislation. It is up to residents what parking arrangements they make on their own property.”
Ms Bell said a nature strip was part of the road reserve.
“An infringement notice for parking on a nature strip is $85 on the spot, or a maximum of three penalty units which equates to $423 if the matter is prosecuted in court,” she said.
“Parking on a nature strip poses dangers to pedestrians, particularly those with prams or wheelchairs, and road users not being able to see or manoeuvre around parked cars as well as damage caused to the nature strip vegetation.”