New team keeping car parks free

Action is being taken after businesses alerted Moreton Bay Regional Council to all-day illegal parkers taking on-street spaces from customers.

A dedicated team of council parking officers has been allocated to identified hotspots, moving commuters on and creating more foot traffic for businesses in CBD areas.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the new approach is already proving effective. 

Biggest problem

“The biggest issue we found in our CBDs was the sheer number of motorists who were blatantly overstaying the permitted parking times,” he says.

“Some people might think we arbitrarily make up the parking times on signs, but they’re actually there to turn over traffic so businesses get a steady flow of customers.

“I have to thank businesses for bringing this issue to our attention. 

Patrol team

"My advice to anyone who’s been deliberately overstaying parking times in areas like Caboolture, North Lakes, Redcliffe and Strathpine, is to stop before you get fined.”

A team of dedicated officers are now on patrol in those areas, seven days a week, and penalties will immediately be applied to those not complying with the parking laws.

Vietnamese Bistro owner Robert Cramb said he was relieved to see parking officers monitoring the streets of Redcliffe after calling for a change last year.

Not ideal

“The problem we had was that visitors park in Sutton Street, then they go to the beach and leave their car in our parking spots all day,” he said.

“It’s not ideal for business to have all your car parks constantly occupied by people who have no intention of spending money in those businesses.

“I’m glad Council has not only listened to our concerns, but they’ve taken action that will help us in the long run.”

Council parking officers will also collect data that will inform decisions on local parking laws specific to each region.

Thumbs up

Redcliffe Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Brad Flynn welcomed the change.

“Overall this is a big thumbs up from the business world,” he said. “And it’s a big bonus to know that these officers will be collecting parking data so we can be proactive about solutions in the future.

“Council has been a great help to businesses throughout COVID-19 through their stimulus package and it’s good to see them follow up with something that should help longer term.”

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