New 2-hour Parking Restriction for Popular Stretch of Banna Avenue
Thursday September 25, 2014
Griffith City Council will soon implement a 2-hour parking restriction along the stretch of Banna Avenue that is a popular location for people parking cars for sale.
Recent complaints from a number of businesses located in the vicinity of the road—known as Prod Straight—resulted in a new parking restriction being recommended by Griffith City Council’s Local Traffic Committee during its September meeting.
As a result, the 2-hour parking restriction will be implemented to help businesses in that area ensure parking spaces for customers and maintain access to driveways to the businesses. Unrestricted parking will remain outside the old rice mill site, which remains vacant. Parking in an area longer than allowed is an offence pursuant to Section 650(1) of the Local Government Act and carries a $104 fine.
Griffith City Council’s Road Safety Officer Greg Balind said Council has received an increase in complaints associated with the increasing trend of selling private motor vehicles across the city, including Prod Straight, over the past few years. He said research is ongoing to determine the appropriate solution for these concerns.
“There are a number of factors to consider when seeking a solution to this issue, including the safety of all road users, the right of business owners to have customer parking and access to their property, and the requirements of car owners who wish to sell their vehicles,” Mr Balind said. “The police have booked several people along this section of Banna Avenue for ‘double parking’ therefore they too have concerns about safety.”
Mr Balind said Council conducted community consultation in August 2012 which resulted in overwhelming support for vehicles being sold to stay on Prod Straight.
“However in the two years since, the number of vehicles parked at that location at any one time has grown from 45 to more than 65 and this increase means we have to re-assess solutions.”
Deputy Mayor Doug Curran, Chair of Council’s Local Traffic Committee, said while he understands that people have the right to sell their cars, there are concerns about the manner in which cars are parked at the current location.
“The Prod Straight section on Banna Avenue site is one of Griffith’s main thoroughfares and although it’s not illegal to sell a car, the visual aspect of 60-plus vehicles parked for sale along our main street is a first impression I do not wish to impart on visitors to Griffith,” Councillor Curran said. “Several solutions have been considered but with each solution comes further problems therefore we need to take a strategic approach to arriving at a satisfactory conclusion to this matter.” For more information, please visit www.griffith.nsw.gov.au or call Council on 6962 8100.
