RESIDENT Greg Hayes vows that he will take the Redland City Council to court over two parking tickets he picked up at the over-crowded Weinam Creek marina and on Russell Island.
He said he believed that council was acting unfairly in its policing of parking on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and at Weinam Creek, Redland Bay.
The council did not provide enough parks at Weinam Creek and had conducted a campaign against islanders parking in the area for at least the past two years.
Mr Hayes said he had counted car parks at Victoria Point, the hopping off point to Coochiemudlo Island and at Toondah Harbour, Cleveland, where people left for North Stradbroke Island – two areas not part of the SMBI area. He found 54 vacant parks at Victoria Point and 185 at Toondah Harbour.
The count was done at 3am and at the same time, the Weinam Creek parking area was overflowing, showing that SMBI residents were being discriminated against.
A council spokesman said officers were required to enforce parking laws across the city and did not target any particular areas.
“It needs to be remembered that much of council enforcement is in response to public complaints about illegal parking,’’ he said. “Residents quite rightly have an expectation that council will police parking so it is equitable and available for everyone.’’
He said resolving Weinam Creek issues was a high priority.
“Providing long-term parking and transport solutions were key considerations in the nomination of Weinam Creek as a joint state/council Priority Development Area and preferred developer Walker Corporation is currently finalising a concept plan for the area, including a parking solution,’’ he said.
In the short-term council was looking at ways to ease parking pressure, including a re-configuration to benefit disabled commuters and island residents.
Mr Hayes said the amount of rates he had paid over the years was such that he had already personally paid for a car park in the Weinam precinct.
"I don't believe the council is exercising its power in a democratic way,'' he said.
Mr Hayes complained that people who did not pay rates in the Redlands could leave a car and boat trailer at Weinam Creek while islanders who paid rates were struggling to find a park.
The council spokesman said all locals and visitors could use any available public car parking at any time, all they had to do was follow regulations.
“It should also be remembered that unlike many cities, public parking in Redland City is free – provided drivers obey the parking regulations,’’ he said.
