By Brendan Rees
More parking signs will be installed along Kangan Drive in Berwick following a public outcry from dozens of commuters who have been slugged with parking fines.
Parking bans, which came into affect July last year, have drawn the ire of commuters who say the signs are “deceiving” and “confusing.”
Twelve residents who have been slapped with $161 parking infringement fines in recent weeks protested at a Casey Council meeting on Tuesday 22 January by holding signs above their heads from the public gallery which read: “Change the signs,” “Kangan Drive make it fair,” “Misleading and unfair,” among other slogans.
When the question was posed to councillors about the parking signs, manager of community safety at the City of Casey Caroline Bell said “to further increase the understanding of these restrictions, a doubling of the statutory signage will be introduced in coming weeks, together with further advisory signs.”
“The statutory signage will then have a spacing of approximately every 20 metres.”
Ms Bell said the parking restrictions were in response to the “community’s concerns and frequent complaints regarding the increased congestion and travel time delays.”
As it stands, the ‘no stopping’ restrictions operate from 7.30am – 9.30am and 2.30pm – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday – which affects 38 parking bays. During other hours of the day, parking is restricted to two hours.
Cr Tim Jackson said the signs “were absolutely needed” but council should advocate to the State Government to make parking free at public hospitals rather “forcing” people to park on the road.
Michael Drew of Lynbrook, who led the group of disgruntled commuters at the council meeting, has become known as a crusader of late by standing along Kangan Drive and preventing further commuters from being fined.
He said the new measure announced by council was “some sort of progress” but come the start of school next week, “it’ll be more revenue.”
According to Mr Drew, he has saved around 300 drivers from being booked over a period of 16 days – equating to about $47,000.
He says parking inspectors had been opportunistic – taking advantage of people attending St John of God Hospital and Casey Hospital.
Leonard Camm of Narre Warren, who received an infringement for failing obey a no parking sign on the 10 January after taking his son for a blood test to a nearby hospital, said it was “unfair”
“It’s not a clearway and I wouldn’t have been obstructing any flow of traffic for seven minutes,” he said.
“It’s really bizarre…It’s revenue at its best.”
However, Serena of Narre Warren South said she was frustrated by “selfish people” parking illegally on Kangan Drive and “holding up traffic.”
“Every day I am amazed at how many people were continuing to park there illegally even when there were large bright yellow signs warning of the changes to parking restrictions for at least a month or two after the changes were made,” she said.
Serena, who asked not publish her surname, said the fines were warranted and “not a money making scheme by council.”
“The bigger issue here is that two hospitals were built too close together with not enough parking.”
