No room at Redland Bay ferry terminal for shift worker

Ms Davies said that as a nurse she often finished work late, meaning that by the time she arrived at the terminal parking area for the last ferry there were invariably no parks left.

She often had to use unauthorised parks or leave her car a long distance from the terminal which meant walking through dark streets.

Ms Davies said she had been approached twice by strangers, one an unkempt man asking for a cigarette and three boys asking for money.

“I felt very vulnerable and feared that if I did not oblige their requests they could turn aggressive,” she said. 

“I am aware that there is a secure council car park which I have looked into applying for only to find that there is a three to four-year waiting list indicating the demand for secure car parking spaces has not been met.

“…Even now after the new ferry terminal has been completed there are still not enough car parks. 

“I believe that council has a duty of care to provide a safe environment for its residents.”

Cr Mark Edwards said he could understand a woman being concerned about such a long walk at night and he would take up the issue of better policing with local MP Matt McEachan.

“Policing issues are always a problem around commuter transport hubs no matter where they are,” he said

Ms Davies said the inclusion of security cameras at the new terminal was a good move but the cameras did not cover areas where she walked.

She said she wanted council to tell her how she could avoid parking on dark streets and dark parking areas that were unsafe. She had been fined for parking in the wrong spaces.

“It is essential for me, in order to continue to be able to provide the community with my specialist skills that I find a solution to this dilemma.

“I would be extremely grateful if the council could wave these fines for me in consideration of my need to maintain my personal safety whilst abiding by the councils parking laws,” she said.

Cr Edwards said no councillor could try to get fines waived but Ms Davies could put her case to the council chief executive if there were extenuating circumstances.

“I’d get a trip to the Crime and Corruption Commission if I tried that,” he said.

Cr Edwards said he would ask transport engineers to review parking and how spaces were allocated to see if there was a more equitable system.

This might mean some of the no-time-limit parks close to the terminal could be removed or perhaps have parking hours changed.

“Maybe we could make some spaces ‘no parking’ between certain hours to make spots available for shift workers,” he said. “We’ve got to think out of the box with these sorts of things.”

Cr Edwards said about 100 more parks were available since the marina bus station project finished.

“But overall parking issues will not be resolved until the entire area is redeveloped,” he said.