The Queenstown Lakes District Council is cracking down on illegally parked vehicles at the Queenstown Events Centre, issuing $40 infringement notices to those parking in prohibited areas.
At least 20 vehicles parked on the grass verge beside State Highway 6 were ticketed during Saturday’s Battle of the Basin premier rugby match, between Wakatipu and Arrowtown, while the occupants were watching the game.
Parking wardens have been patrolling the area since May 5.
In a post on social media on May 3 the council said it understood the events centre could get "pretty busy at times", particularly with junior sport in autumn and winter, but "safe and lawful parking is essential to ensure the safety of all centre users".
Parking was not allowed "anywhere on grass", in the bus zones along Joe O’Connell Dr, or the "small islands in between the pedestrian crossings that lead to/from the entrance".
"All parking on the roadside of SH6 through Frankton has been prohibited since July last year.
"This includes the verges next to the sports fields at QEC."Proactive enforcement in these areas will be taking place ... [on] an ongoing basis.
"Any vehicles found parked unlawfully will receive a parking ticket and may be towed."
Despite the Arrowtown Rugby Club warning supporters on social media the council would be "ticketing or towing vehicles" parked on the grass at the events centre, and signs on poles facing the highway warning of the parking prohibition, many were caught out, including Arrowtown student Hamish Clarke.
Mr Clarke said it was "disgusting" the council was penalising people who were supporting local sports.
"I’m a struggling student ... $40 is pretty ridiculous.
"This will be my last $40 — now I can’t go out with my friends tonight because I have to pay this bill."
He said he saw other vehicles parked on the grass, so assumed parking was allowed and did not notice the signs advising otherwise. He felt warning notices should have been issued instead of infringement notices.
"It’s a lot of money for them [the council]," he said.
"They’ve got to pay for the new [council] building somehow."
It is understood the council did issue warning notices to vehicles parked illegally in April to advise proactive enforcement was beginning.
Council communications adviser Jimmy Sygrove said there had been non-compliant parking at the events centre for "some time", but it had reached the point where it was impacting users on a regular basis.
"QLDC parking enforcement officers have been regularly monitoring the events centre area, including road verges, to make sure people are following the rules, particularly around large events.
"This recent post [on social media] was just a reminder."
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Comments
Where is the other half of the story? Are people choosing to not pay for parking and just parking on the side of the road or is there insufficient public parking near the events centre?
Who is really to blame for the issue of errant parking? the public or council?