Volunteer fury at fines for surf event parking
A volunteer caught in a council parking crackdown on attendees of a major kids surf life saving weekend is fuming, and claims the City should not target non-profit events.
Some volunteers were nursing bills of almost $600 per vehicle.
The cars parked on vacant land near Kirra Surf Shop on the weekend of March 22 to 24 after the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships Youth Weekend was moved from Burleigh to North Kirra.
One man Dan said it meant most competitors and their families who had booked accommodation with parking in Burleigh, found they had to drive as a result.
“As a result almost all attendees needed to drive with not a lot of parking, and public transport wasn’t an option due to surf rafts ranging from six foot to 10 and a half foot,” he said.
“With all of the parking being three hours in the area and an event that went from 6am to 4pm each day everybody was forced to park in the general area.”
The man said he and others opted to park on the vacant land, believing they would not inconvenience local businesses, pedestrians or other road users.
“Myself and a number of others decided not to block in anybody or businesses and parked neatly on vacant land across from the Kirra Surf Shop, with no danger to drivers or pedestrians,” he said.
Dan and others were handed $193 fines for parking on a nature strip. He estimated there were about 60 cars similarly parked on the day he was fined.
“It’s a shame for council to chase money at a kids not for profit sporting event,” he said.
For Carly Fritsch and her husband, who both volunteered at the carnival, it was an especially expensive weekend.
“My husband and I parked the first two days on a grass area without receiving a fine,” she said. “On the third and final day, parked in the same spot, we received at $193 fine each.
“Then we returned home and received fines in the mail for the previous days. There were no tickets on the cars but sent in the mail later. To me this was very cheeky as had we received a fine in the first day we would not have parked there again. Hundreds of cars were fined.”
Ms Fritsch said the near $1200 penalty for herself and her husband was a cruel blow for the two volunteers, who had tried to do the right thing.
“We were not parked unsafely and were not blocking any access or viewing,” she said. “We had paid for accommodation in Burleigh to avoid
the need to find parking while volunteering, but with the event moved at late notice we were unable to get refunds, like the majority of people who travelled for the event.
“It is disgusting they fined people for this unprecedented event. People came to Kirra, spent money in shops and cafes, and then they copped fines. So many of those who got fined were volunteers.
“SLSQ could have moved the carnival to Redland Bay like in previous years but they kept it on the Gold Coast and this is how the council thank them.”
News of the fines handed out at the youth surf lifesaving carnival comes after the Bulletin on Friday revealed how council
pinged almost 2000 people over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Of those, 129 were fined for parking on a nature strip.
Asked about the controversy on Friday, Mayor Tom Tate backed the issuing of the fines.
“If you park (in a way) that is not correct or dangerous, well you deserve the fine,” he said.
A council spokesperson said fines were issued for a variety of reasons.
“The City monitors parking and undertakes enforcement activities across the entire Gold Coast area to promote pedestrian safety, reduce traffic congestion, and ensure equitable access to parking for locals and visitors alike,” the spokesperson said.
If you park (in a way) that is not correct or dangerous, well you deserve the fine. Tom Tate
Gold Coast mayor