Fines axed in parking backflip

Motorists will not be fined for parking on verges in industrial areas after an angry backlash from the public.

Earlier this year the Shire of Broome informed businesses in Clementson Street and Archer Street their customers and staff were not allowed to park on verges and would face fines of $60 a vehicle if caught.

The notices led to a public meeting at Kimberley Trailer Parts on Gregory Street involving about 40 people, including Shire president Ron Johnston and Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Ken Baston.

The move was labelled a revenue raising exercise in the face of hard economic times and opponents demanded in a petition that planned enforcement action be thrown out.

Shire councillors abided by their wishes at the ordinary meeting last Thursday when they unanimously voted on a proposal to amend the binding local law, which will now be advertised for consultation.

Investigations by council officers showed the average road widths on industrial estates in town were not wide enough to accommodate on-street parking within the carriageway.

Shire director development services Aletta Nugent said public safety was paramount.

“We can’t put people in a position where to comply with the local law they are going to be unsafe,” she said.

“We need to amend the local law to facilitate safe opportunities for parking in industrial areas.”

The council launched an enforcement initiative last year to deal with complaints over the “unsightly nature” of industrial estates, relating to materials and objects stored on verges, including parking. The crackdown started in the Blue Haze Industrial Estate where the Shire sent letters to landowners and spoke to businesses about this issue. No infringements were issued during that time.

Ms Nugent said the council was working with business owners to get them to a point where they were able to comply with the local law.

She reminded people that storing things on verges such as truck trailers, containers and pallets, would still be enforced.