Bowled over by $252 fine
Visitor says Coast becoming ‘unfriendly’
A LAWN bowler who each year travels more than 1000km from Mackay to take part in the Australian Open at Broadbeach says he may not be back again after copping a $252 parking fine from council.
Rob Harris, 71, was slapped with the fine for overstaying his welcome while parked beside the club at Amrick Avenue – an area that recently became a fourhour zone.
Mr Harris said the fine showed the Gold Coast was becoming “unfriendly” for visitors.
“I’ve travelled over 1000 kilometres to come here, and I come down every year,” he said. “Why come back next year if this is going to happen? “It’s just unfriendly.” Mr Harris said he didn’t notice the signs restricting parking to four hours, which were were not present during his previous visits.
“I was none the wiser,” he said.
“I don’t know who those particular spaces belong to – In past years, I and many others have always parked in this same area with no consequence.”
Mr Harris said it was unreasonable to expect bowlers to move their cars during competition.
“If we’re playing there all day – some bowls games go for hours – you can’t just walk out when it suits you,” he said
“The tournament is big, there’s some 2000 people around on any given day. I don’t know where they’re going to park and being the Australian Open, the amount of money it brings to the Coast, you’d think they’d be a bit more sensible.”
Local councillor Paul Taylor said that signs around the Broadbeach bowls and soccer clubs has been installed in the past 12 months.
“We had a meeting with the sporting clubs around that area and discussed parking limits be enforced, to avoid people parking all day,” he said.
“We’re still reviewing parking in Broadbeach, and a lot of ongoing issues were raised at last Monday’s parking workshop.”
A council spokesperson said event organisers were responsible for traffic management and parking considerations. “Normal parking restrictions apply,” the spokesperson said.