By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY residents can now stay on the straight and narrow with the council when parking on their nature strip along tight residential roads.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, the councillors resolved to allow resident who live in streets 5.5metre wide or less to park on their nature strips without copping a fine if they abide by a number of conditions.
The conditions include that resident maintain the nature strip and repair any damage caused by vehicles parking on the nature strip, trucks are still not allowed to be parked and nature strips and pedestrian access and footways must not be obstructed.
The move came about after a flood of complaints from residents living in narrow streets who were fined by the council for parking on their nature strips, despite feeling it was unsafe to park along the road.
Problems were also raised with the council about emergency services being unable to gain access to many streets when cars were parking on both sides of the road rather than on the nature strips.
While the council does not have a policy regarding parking on nature strips, it is required under legislation to enforce State Government Law that makes parking on a nature strip an offence under the Road Safety Road Rules 2009.
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.
Mayfield Ward councillor Gary Rowe has led the push to have the council use discretion when booking people in narrow streets.
“This has been an issue of great concern to our residents,” he said.
“Narrow streets have been forced on Casey residents by poor planning decisions. It’s something the residents of Casey have wanted and needed for quite some time. This will be a relief for residents who live in streets that are 5.5metres or less.”
Cr Rowe said he believed the council officers and Victoria Police had already been using discretion in the past, but this made it more formal.
Councillor Rafal Kaplon called on blanket discretion being exercised across Casey, no matter how narrow or big the residental street was.
“I’ve heard complaints from residents being booked who live on bigger streets as well,” he said.
“I’m on the same page as Gary, but I disagree with the wording.
“I’m against limiting this discretion to roads 5.5metres or less.
“If parking on a nature strip outside your own home then it should be fine no matter the size of your street.”
Cr Rowe said he appreciated where Cr Kaplon was coming from, but said that what he was asking for was too broad.
“If the problems continue we can look at it again in the future,” he said.
“But the wider streets are designed to have room for parking opposite each other.
“In some cases it’s meant to be a traffic calming measure, but in narrow streets it’s just traffic blocking.”
A number of Casey residents were thrilled that the council would be exercising discretion before booking people parking on their nature strips when we put the news to our Facebook followers.
“Residence should be able to park on their own nature strip,” said Claire Waite. “We have to maintain it so why shouldn’t we be able to park there?”
Nadine Powell said she felt sorry for people who resided in narrow streets.
“No one should be forced to have to park their cars like this,” she said.
“Planning and development should be looked at more carefully to ensure ample space is provided for everyone.
“Even if they pave an area in between each property which has been seen in some areas.
“It looks much better than dead and unsightly grass which should not be blamed on the property owner due to them having no other choice but to park there.”
While the council has said it would use discretion before booking residents, other enforcement agencies still could including Victoria Police.
Casey council officers will now use discretion before fining residents’ vehicles parked on nature strips in narrow roads outside their own properties providing:
– The nature strip is located immediately outside the vehicle owner’s property.
– Parking the vehicle on the nature strip does not result in any adverse effect on driver’s visibility of the highway or pose an obstruction to highway traffic.
– The vehicle is not parked within 10 metres of an intersection.
– The resident maintains the nature strip and repairs any damage caused by vehicles parking on the nature strip.
– No obstruction is caused to statutory supply authorities.
– The vehicle is registered, not offered for sale and is not parked there in excess of seven continuous days.
– Pedestrian access and footways are not obstructed.
– No other breach of traffic laws is occurring.
– The vehicle is not a truck.
