By LIA SPENCER
RESIDENTS in Casey have complained about receiving fines while parking on nature strips in narrow roads.
One resident, Berwick RSL president Ray Heathcote, said he was given a ticket last year after parking on a nature strip for 15 minutes.
Mr Heathcote said he was unloading tokens at the RSL for the organisation’s appeal and there were no other spots near the centre where he could park.
He was fined $73 by a City of Casey by-laws officer. Mr Heathcote wrote to the City of Casey to explain the circumstances, but the fine was upheld.
“I think for a start, (the City of Casey) need to make it clear that the nature strip was an illegal place to park,” he said.
“It’s not clear because people across Berwick park on their nature strips when the roads are narrow. You see cars parked on nature strips which are for sale.”
Other residents agreed.
On the Cranbourne Berwick News Facebook page, Liz Lappin wrote “My whole street parks their cars on nature strips! It gets the cars off the roads!”
Pamela Fouche wrote “If we all park in our street then the buses can’t get through.”
Michele Halsall wrote “I also live on a narrow street. I had one car parked on the road and one on the nature strip yesterday. I could only get my car through. It would have been impossible for a fire truck to get through.”
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.
Under the Infringements Act 2006, a person issued an infringement is entitled to one review by writing to the council.
The council must respond to the review within 90 days. Grounds for reviewing an infringement are specified in the Act.
City of Casey Acting Manager Community Safety Tracey Blythe said that the council did not have a
policy regarding parking on nature strips, but was required, under legislation, to enforce State Government law that makes parking on a nature strip an offence under the Road Safety Road Rules 2009.
“Parking on a nature strip poses dangers to pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities and prams, and road users not being able to see or manoeuvre around parked cars, as well as damage caused to the nature strip vegetation,” Ms Blythe said.
“State-wide traffic laws ensure the safety on and around Victoria’s roads for the benefit of all road users and pedestrians of all mobilities.
“People park illegally sometimes not realising that they are inconveniencing others and may put others in danger.
“Council receives numerous calls from concerned residents about people parking on and obstructing their nature strips, and officers are obliged to act.”
A report on this matter will be considered at the council meeting on 7 May.
