[Greens-Media] New Waverley Mayor will endanger lives if he reverses councils parking fines program

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE - 25 September 2006

New Waverley Mayor may endanger lives if he reverses council's parking
fines program

Greens MP and roads spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said Waverley Councils
new Mayor would be acting irresponsibly if he reversed the councils
illegal parking program as it has been very successful in reducing
accidents, despite record numbers of people visiting local beaches and
Bondi Junction shops.

"Mayor George Newhouse's defence of motorists is pure popularism. He
needs to remember that turning around his Council's excellent parking
program would endanger lives, Ms Rhiannon said.

"In the Waverley area over the last five years pedestrian accidents
have dropped by up to 54 percent and vehicle accidents by up to 26
percent, showing that cracking down on people parking illegally has
clear benefits for public safety.

"People who park in bus zones and near intersections block drivers
vision and this jeopardises the safety of pedestrians and other
drivers.

"It is surprising that Mayor Newhouse is unaware or ignoring one of
Waverley Councils innovative programs, the 'Move On. Avoid the Fine'
campaign.

"This does exactly what Mr Newhouse is calling on his rangers to do -
exercise 'less fines and more commonsense'.

"Parking Officers are instructed that if they see a person in their car
parked in a bus, no parking or no standing zone, or near an
intersection, they should ask the driver to move on. If drivers do so
immediately then no fine is issued.

"This has resulted in the Council actually forgoing $180,000 in fines
in the past three months.

"Waverley Council has been patrolling 16 schools on a rotating basis of
two schools a day, every school day. These patrols focus on moving
carers on and preventing unsafe parking not issuing fines.

"The Council is also engaged in a 12 month education program on parking
safely and legally, underlining the impact of dangerous parking on
public safety.

"Waverley Council should be congratulated for its innovative policies
designed to educate drivers and change their behaviour which have
reduced accidents.

"The Greens urge other local councils around Sydney to look at Waverley
Council's model of regulating parking as a way of reducing accidents and
saving lives", Ms Rhiannon said. 

More information: 9230 3551 or 0427 861 568




Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Tues, Wed and alternate Mons)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au