Weinam Creek ferry terminal parking mess

For Redland Bay cafe and store owner James Nohokau it meant closing up shop four hours early two days in a row.

Annoyed that someone could block the front of his shop, Mr Nohokau said the type of vehicle was unusual but not the length of time it stayed.

Mr Nohokau’s business is on Banana Street near the busy Weinam Creek ferry terminal for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

While ferry users complain about the limited parking available and fines for illegal parking, Mr Nohokau is one of the terminal neighbours badly impacted by rogue parkers.

He said his business was often hampered by cars parked for a lengthy period in the two-hour zones, with one in front of his store for more than three days last week.

Mr Nohokau said he had contacted council about the issue. “I am a serial offender with complaints about the parking,” he said. “I have an ongoing battle with council over this bit of thoroughfare.”

A council spokesman said their officers patrolled the ferry terminal area regularly and took a balanced approach to enforcement that recognised the need to ensure priority for public safety and the impacts of the construction of the new terminal facility.

Regarding the road-working machine, the spokesman said there were provisions for such vehicles to park in restricted parking areas.

​​The shop owner said he had never seen officers giving tickets to cars parked in front of his store.

“Council are seemingly not wanting to do anything about it,” he said.

“If I wasn’t getting booked when I parked in one spot, I would certainly keep going back.”

The council spokesman said they used in-car camera technology and sent infringements in the post.

“The use of the camera car means infringement notices placed on the windscreen are no longer required and is therefore less obvious to the general public,” he said.

Mr Nohokau said he managed a private car park nearby and had 40 people on the waiting list so he realised parking was at a premium.