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Council warning about parking in suburban streets sparks fierce debate

Residents north of Brisbane are debating a “ridiculous” council parking law.

Some residents of the Moreton Bay region are furious with council placing flyers on cars warning the owners not to park on nature strips.

A man, believed to be a North Lakes resident, shared a notice he found on his windshield to Facebook on Monday claiming the “parasites are back”.

The notice warns residents that parking on nature strips, dividing strips, shared paths and bicycle paths is illegal.

Council included an example picture of several cars parked with two wheels on the road and two on the nature strip adding, this “is not considered a lawful parking practice”.

A street in Queensland's Moreton Bay region is pictured with cars parked on the grass.
Moreton Bay Regional Council says this photo is an example of how not to park. It's made residents unhappy. Source: Moreton Bay Regional Council via Facebook

It added anyone caught doing so could receive a fine.

However, residents are furious and have disputed the practicality of the new parking law.

‘Bloody ridiculous’

The man who shared the flyer to Facebook claims there isn’t enough space when both sides of the road have parked cars.

“When we (including neighbours across the road) both park on the street there is no room for small trucks or emergency services to come through,” he wrote.

He called the law “ridiculous” and added people need to be careful of sideswiping each other on the road.

The fact sheet which was left on people's cars in Brisbane's north. Source: Facebook
The fact sheet which was left on people's cars in Brisbane's north. Source: Facebook

Other people added their two cents with one woman calling it a “bloody stupid law”.

“So annoying,” another woman wrote.

“If the council had insisted on sufficient road widths when development applications were submitted by developers this wouldn’t be an issue.”

She added the law is “money grabbing”.

However, other people pointed out the law isn’t exactly a new one.

The law council is referring to is from 2011.

One man wrote the law is appropriate.

People talk on the roof of a car.
Some people have argued the law is fine as it stops drivers blocking footpaths. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

“Fines should be applied,” he wrote.

“Take the car in the flyer - stupid place to park.”

Another man suggested moving to a place which better suits “vehicle needs”.

One woman also pointed out the reason for not parking off-road is due to safety.

“The footpath is designed for pedestrians,” she wrote.

“Imagine how you would feel if a child had to walk out on the road to get past your vehicle and got hit by another.”

Residents ‘responding well to the advice’

Council started putting out the flyers as part of a campaign to ensure people are parking properly.

A council spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia it’s “advising residents of parking regulations in accordance with the Queensland Road Rules”.

“Residents have been responding well to the advice and there have been no issues,” the spokesperson said.

“Part of the public awareness campaign addresses built-up areas, like North Lakes, because parking is at a premium in residential areas that are close to business districts, school zones and similar high traffic areas.

“Fines are issued if local laws officers deem there is an immediate public safety risk, illegal or dangerously parked vehicles.”

The spokesperson added people who park on the road “must do so in accordance with the legal parking requirements under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulations”.

A woman driving looks over her shoulder to reverse.
Council said residents have responded well to the parking advice. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

“The Queensland road rules allow motorists to park on both sides of the road. However, they must leave at least three metres of clear roadway between their vehicle and other parked vehicles, dividing strips, traffic islands or unbroken driving lines,” the spokesperson said.

Councils around Australia handing out fines for parking off road aren’t exactly a new thing either.

A woman from Orange, in NSW’s Central West, complained in May she received a $263 fine for parking on her own lawn.

In January, a Canberra man complained his partner had been slapped with a fine for parking on the section of pavement between their driveway and the footpath which runs through a nature strip.

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