Southern suburb makes up 10 per cent of parking reports

MORE than 10 per cent of wrongly parked vehicle reports in Geelong are from Armstrong Creek.

Data from the City of Greater Geelong’s “report a vehicle parked on nature strip or footpath form” shows Armstrong Creek and Grovedale were the suburbs most notorious for misparked vehicles.

In Victoria it is illegal to park cars, trailers or caravans on nature strips. Fines are issued by local councils at their discretion.

Parked vehicles must also not block driveways. Owning or living at a property also does not allow an individual to park on the nature strip out front of it.

In the past 12 months the city received almot 900 reports, 92 which related to vehicles in Armstrong Creek.

Grovedale followed with 60 reports, while Geelong and Belmont sat at 51 and 50 respectively.

Despite its proximity to the top offending suburb, Mount Duneed had just 35 reports, the same number as Leopold, which rounds out the top 10.

Antony Basford, the city’s executive director of city life, encouraged drivers to self-manage parking in residential areas by following Victorian parking laws.

“This includes parking within a bay’s marked lines, not double parking, staying off median strips or shared paths and leaving enough room – at least 3m – of road space in narrow streets,” Basford said.

“If there’s an issue, we suggest having a conversation with your neighbours in the first instance or reporting your concern to the city or Victoria Police if a road is blocked.”

Parking infringements issued by the city fall into three categories: low, mid and high range.

A high range fine will cost the driver $202 and may be issued to cars parked in no-standing areas or in disabled bays without proper permits.

A mid range fine of $121 may be issued for cars parked in taxi zones or blocking footpaths or driveways.

Low range fines of $101 may be issued to drivers who have overstayed or failed to pay for their parking.

Drivers are responsible for their parked cars. Regardless of how quiet a street is, they must be parked on the left-hand side of the road and have a 3m clearance for passing cars.

Motorcycles are exempt from the nature strip rule and can be parked there as long as they do not block the road.