Council's Reply To My Email

[adkel53]

Hi raiders,

Thought I'd share an email I sent to Nth Sydney Council (re parking at Tunks Park) and their reply with you. Seems to me that they are not very interested in the boating fraternity or they would enact some by-laws making it an offence to park in areas that are designated for cars and trailers (as I believe there are at Rose Bay). Will have to look harder for those toilets too!! A sign telling the public where the public toilets are might be a good idea.

Cheers

Kel

My email:

I wish to register a complaint about what I see as illegal parking at Tunks Park boat ramp. The number of boat spaces is very limited and it galls me to arrive at the ramp at 5.40 am as I did this morning and find that five designated car/boat trailer spaces are taken up by trailer/sailor boats, a car trailer and two unattended boat trailers. All five were there last weekend too. The unthoughtful knuckleheads deserve a fine and/or their "vehicles" to be removed. They are forcing legitimate users of the ramp to park up the road leading down to the park, thus leaving boats unattended tied up to the pontoon while the owner parks the trailer when leaving and goes to get it when arriving back at the ramp. many of us fish alone and don't have someone to remain in the boat on the water while the trailer is retrieved.

On another issue, the lack of toilet facilities is a disgrace for a major boating facility like Tunks Park. Surely the construction of an amenities block is within the reach of council.

Thirdly, in order to improve the parking arrangements for boat trailers, why not remove the grassed "island" between the car spaces to the south of the existing trailer parking area and turn those spaces into car and trailer only spaces on weekends? There are more than enough car only spaces - more trailer spaces are badly needed on weekends.

I look forward to seeing some improvements at Tunks Park and to having the parking regulations enforced.

Arthur Kelly

Reply:

Dear Mr Kelly

Thank you for your email dated 14 March 2010 concerning Tunks Park.

With regard to the parking issues at Tunks Park, I certainly understand your frustration that boats and trailers are taking up the valuable parking resource.

Australian Road Rule 200 states that it is legal for a registered boat or trailer (less than 4.5 tonnes and less than 7.5 metres long) to park in a built-up area in accordance with any parking restrictions.Council’s Rangers do regularly inspect these trailers to ensure they are registered. However, if you happen to note an unregistered trailer, please forward the location to Council and the Rangers can arrange to have the trailer removed.

The car/boat trailer parking is advisory only, and this is unfortunately not enforceable.

With regard to your comments on toilet facilities, Council’s Parks and Reserves Manager has provided the following comments:

In regard to your request for the construction of an amenities block adjacent to the boat ramp Tunks Park has two public amenity blocks within the larger section of the reserve. They are located only a short walk across the reserve from the boat ramp. There are therefore no plans to construct a third facility.

With regard to your suggestion to remove the grassed “island”, the car park has been laid out in accordance with the relevant standards for parking spaces and aisle widths etc. Installing additional parking in this area would require significant modifications to the car park area and a significant amount of money, which Council has simply not budgeted for.

Regards

Cathy

Cathy Edwards-Davis

Traffic Engineer

Phone: 02 9936 8100

Fax: 02 9936 8177

Postal Address: PO Box 12 North Sydney NSW 2059

Edited March 25, 2010 by kel

[g.t.]

Good on you Kel for following through and sending that email :thumbup: . I said in reply to one of your previous posts that I was going to do the same and I haven't followed through on in yet. Thank you for reminding me as I'm so annoyed by the lack of parking and the fact that there's clearly selfish people using it for long term boat and trailer storage. I'm going to send them an email early next week on the same topic. It will probably be equivalent to bashing my head against a brick wall but it's worth a try.

Australian Road Rule 200 states that it is legal for a registered boat or trailer (less than 4.5 tonnes and less than 7.5 metres long) to park in a built-up area in accordance with any parking restrictions.

From what they've said here "in accordance with parking restrictions", it seem to me all they would need to do is invoke appropriate "parking restrictions" to limit the length of time you're allowed to park in the parking spots down there. Every other parking lot I can think of has some form of time restriction, so I can't see why the hell this parking lot can't have some. All they would need to do would be make 2 rules/ bilaws:

1- Set a maximum time limit (could and should be reasonably long - say 24-48hrs). If you wanted to park for several days then you can park up the hill.

2- Designate the boat and trailer spots to be "Boat and trailer only".

How hard could this be!!!! :ranting2:

Anyway, if I get a differing response from the council I'll let you know. I'm not expecting one. Just remember...

"A lot has been said about Local Government; some of it complimentary, but most of it accurate."

Cheers,

Geoff.

Edited March 25, 2010 by g.t.

[adkel53]

Thanks Geoff. I'm working on a reply and may just suggest that a limit of 24 hours be applied to all parking spots at Tunks Park. I doubt that would inconvenience any genuine boaters. As it is, the selfish boofheads have the run of the place.

Kel

[Piss'n'Broke]

Hmmmm I can understand the issue at hand, and Im not defending anyone here. But the council does partol down there very regularly. Just over a month ago the council rangers did a major patrol down,,,, fines were issued to over a dozen boats/trailers who arrived and rather than park up the road, parked in car "only" spots with there trailers up on the median strip. ($110). A few other people were also fined, including the "one disable" car spot for not showing a permit, and several more trailers/boaties were fined were nosing there cars and trailers into clearing sign posted, reverse only spots onto the grassed areas. If you get there early enough its typically not a problem, but Tunks park during Summer with school sports on, parents, kids, boaties, fishos, makes for one hell of a cocktail.

This boat ramp has and always will be a major headache. I/we, myself and Greg have always had issues with this boat ramp, cars damaged, fines issues, tools with toys ie boats.

Its to be expected. But we are all out there to enjoy the harbour, always keep this in mind and everyone has an enjoyable time

Dan

Edited March 25, 2010 by Dan and Greg

[zen801]

Hi,

I understand your frustration with Tunks. I wont go there and prefer the relaxed attitude most of the time down at Roseville. Now and them there is a bit of anti social behavior at night but recently the cops have been cruising through keeping an eye on things.

I have a fair bit to do with Nth Syd Council and they have come a long way with their services. Best thing is to keep the issue on the table with them and be patient.

Good luck.

[Dalucius]

Good on you for the email you sent.

The one thing I can add is the only time we have needed to use the toilet block it was locked.