Your Car Parking Lands
by Shane Sody
It seems that the City of Adelaide puts a low priority on enforcing restrictions on car parking in your Adelaide Park Lands.
Week after week, hundreds of drivers are flouting restrictions and covering your Open, Green Public spaces with their vehicles.
Unauthorised parking in your Adelaide Park Lands carries a $168 fine, according to regulations under the Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA). However there seems to be an unwritten rule that for certain sporting events, you can get away with it.
If you have a permit to park on the Park Lands, it must be clearly displayed. These cars were parked without displaying any permit, at the North Adelaide golf course in Possum Park / Pirltawardli on Sunday 15 September. Pic: John Bridgland.
We asked the City of Adelaide why there was no enforcement action in connection with this apparently illegal parking. On 27 September 2024 we were told:
“Our Parking & Information Officers monitor all areas of the City and North Adelaide, including the Park Lands, and there are many variables to consider as to when and how this is managed, depending on demand, resources and priorities at the time (ie safety, events etc).
“I have asked the Officers to meet with the Golf Course Operations Team to explore ways to deter any illegal parking, while noting that parking in this area is permitted when the course is open for golf-related activities.
“The area is opened for competition event usage when the weather allows, and demand necessitates it to provide access to the Course for Golf activities. This area has been closed for approximately 4 months, as is generally the case over the winter months when demand is lower and weather conditions are unfavourable. It remains closed most days of the week at this stage.”
However our information is that this grassed area in Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1) has not been closed to parking for four months. Parking has continued there (at least on weekends) throughout September, if not longer.
More apparently illegal parking at the same site on Saturday 28 September. Pic: John Bridgland.
Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1) is not the only location where Council parking inspectors appear to turn a blind eye to Park Lands parking infringements.
This sign in Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24) couldn’t be clearer, even though the penalty is out-of-date (It’s now $168, not $156). Pic: John Bridgland 18 February 2024
Two months earlier (November 2023) in King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina (Park15). Pic: Brian
We’ve previously reported that parking inspectors have been reluctant to enforce the Council’s restrictions on using your Park Lands as a car park.
Documents obtained in 2023, using Freedom of Information laws indicate that Council parking inspectors have experienced abuse from offending drivers, and therefore are deterred from taking action. https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/blog/2023/11/22/abusive-drivers-thwart-park-protection
“They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot”
This video, produced about three years ago, features a few of the many places within your Park Lands that are (or were, in 2021) devoted to car parking: