Tunks Park Ramp Parking Warning

[Robbo from Sydney]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this but I wanted to warn fellow Fishraiders of the approach of Willoughby Council to parking on Lower Cliff Road near Tunks Park (Lower North Shore Sydney).
Between Christmas and New Year the ramp was very busy and all the trailer parking at Tunks Park was gone so I did what everyone does and parked on the road leading down to Tunks - Lower Cliff Road. The parking there is clearly sign posted as 12 hour and then further up the hill 72 hour.  My understanding was that Willoughby Council had placed these time limits there to stop people leaving their trailered boats there indefinitely. I parked my car and trailer (Mazda CX5 and trailer for a Quintrex Fishabout 430) in the 12 hour area and was gone for about 4 hours.

I subsequently received a fine of $129 for "Stop heavy/long vehicle longer than 1 hour". There were a lot of others already parked there when I parked and others who arrived after me also there, so I assume there were a lot of fines issued despite there being zero safety risk or inconvenience to others.

I challenged this fine and   whilst Willoughby Council has decided a warning is sufficient and is waiving the fine, the response was that:

"A long vehicle must not stop on a road in a built-up area for longer than one hour. A long vehicle is a vehicle that, together with any load or projection, is 7.5 metres long or longer. The issuing officer notes your vehicle exceeded this length. The restrictions are not signposted as they form part of the road rules. You can find more information in the Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook available from Service NSW at www.service.nsw.gov.au or by attending your nearest Service NSW Centre or relevant authority.'

As with many ramps, there is only limited designated trailer parking and after that you have no choice but to park on the street.

It seems to me the only way to ensure no fine would be to disconnect the trailer from the tow bar whilst parked - which is not a great thing from a safety perspective.Not sure 

[Bryant fish]

What a crap thing for council to do no point having a ramp if no parking 

[Fab1]

28 minutes ago, Robbo from Sydney said:

Not sure if this is the best place to post this but I wanted to warn fellow Fishraiders of the approach of Willoughby Council to parking on Lower Cliff Road near Tunks Park (Lower North Shore Sydney).
Between Christmas and New Year the ramp was very busy and all the trailer parking at Tunks Park was gone so I did what everyone does and parked on the road leading down to Tunks - Lower Cliff Road. The parking there is clearly sign posted as 12 hour and then further up the hill 72 hour.  My understanding was that Willoughby Council had placed these time limits there to stop people leaving their trailered boats there indefinitely. I parked my car and trailer (Mazda CX5 and trailer for a Quintrex Fishabout 430) in the 12 hour area and was gone for about 4 hours.

I subsequently received a fine of $129 for "Stop heavy/long vehicle longer than 1 hour". There were a lot of others already parked there when I parked and others who arrived after me also there, so I assume there were a lot of fines issued despite there being zero safety risk or inconvenience to others.

I challenged this fine and   whilst Willoughby Council has decided a warning is sufficient and is waiving the fine, the response was that:

"A long vehicle must not stop on a road in a built-up area for longer than one hour. A long vehicle is a vehicle that, together with any load or projection, is 7.5 metres long or longer. The issuing officer notes your vehicle exceeded this length. The restrictions are not signposted as they form part of the road rules. You can find more information in the Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook available from Service NSW at www.service.nsw.gov.au or by attending your nearest Service NSW Centre or relevant authority.'

As with many ramps, there is only limited designated trailer parking and after that you have no choice but to park on the street.

It seems to me the only way to ensure no fine would be to disconnect the trailer from the tow bar whilst parked - which is not a great thing from a safety perspective.Not sure 

There’s always the choice of going somewhere else or home or not fishing when 6 million other people are out there.We have choices mate.No such thing as no choice.

As for your post looks like the 12hr or 72hr parking is pointless as I don’t know anyone that boats/fishes for an hour.

My advice is avoid any ramp during any Xmas,Easter,school holiday or public holidays as it’s a no brainer that there will be morons about and it will be packed.

 Thanks for warning people about getting fined.

[whiskey299]

Being a shared zone for ppl in the park and ppl using boats I think they really need to change the rules. Disconnecting the trailer is such a theft and safety risk.

While they are in the habit of issuing fines how about they do something about all the cars parked in the trailer spots.

Edited January 23 by whiskey299

[dunc333]

i dont agree with some of your reasons fab1 .alot of people only get that time off work to go fishing over the xmas break with there family, hence why its busy at ramps .it would be awsome if we all had the choice to only fish weekdays and lots of people work 6 days even 7 now just to make ends meet ..Robbos only complaint is the nsw goverment has a road rule that you cant park any veichle over 7.5m long or over 4.5t for more than 1 hour on any build up area  50km zone rule 32 street road cresent etc  ,which is the most stupid rule among many out there .which needs to be changed cheers dunc333

Edited January 23 by dunc333

[Fab1]

3 hours ago, dunc333 said:

i dont agree with some of your reasons fab1 .alot of people only get that time off work to go fishing over the xmas break with there family, hence why its busy at ramps .it would be awsome if we all had the choice to only fish weekdays and lots of people work 6 days even 7 now just to make ends meet ..Robbos only complaint is the nsw goverment has a road rule that you cant park any veichle over 7.5m long or over 4.5t for more than 1 hour on any build up area  50km zone rule 32 street road cresent etc  ,which is the most stupid rule among many out there .which needs to be changed cheers dunc333

Perhaps for 2 weeks or so at that time of year they could relax the law on it if they wanted but it won’t happen as if someone has a accident or something councils liable.

  The rule is there to stop people parking trucks and the like wherever they want causing issues.That rule has been there since god was a boy.My father in-law is ex council ranger and would give people the chance to move on or get fined.

 I’d take great privilege fining the imbeciles that park cars in trailer parking areas if I was a ranger.

As for only being able to fish Xmas the best option is get there at sparrow fart with the whole family before the crowd.If that’s 2am it’s 2am and make sure you’re in a designated trailer parking area.

[XD351]

It is a stupid law to stop people parking trucks at home . It should have a clause in it stating a long vehicle is any vehicle over 4.5t gvm and longer than 7.5m or cars with trailer is exempt. Deep down the residents there want the ramp gone so I would say they have lobbied there council to install the signs . 

[BaitDropper]

I feel for you Robbo, it seems to be happening in a lot of residential areas where there is a boat ramp.

It can be very frustrating, Melbourne was a share nightmare for parking and wardens nailing you, without exception. We had to pay at all ramps down there, no free ramps and bugga all parking when the snapper season started, once the car park was full, you just went home or took the hit for the pending ticket.

I agree with XD, residents would have been lobbying council to do regular inspections, for sure.

A good warning to all tho.

[Fab1]

1 hour ago, XD351 said:

It is a stupid law to stop people parking trucks at home . It should have a clause in it stating a long vehicle is any vehicle over 4.5t gvm and longer than 7.5m or cars with trailer is exempt. Deep down the residents there want the ramp gone so I would say they have lobbied there council to install the signs . 

There’s trucks parked all over the streets where I live and that doesn’t stop them.

  Nothing happens unless a resident lodged a complaint with the council and the rangers will come and warn or fine them.

 The residents where this ramp is located will be a pack of whingers whinging to council.

In my experience the closer to the city/water suburbs you get the more whingers there are that don’t want the 💩in there backyard and I don’t blame them with some of the grubs around parking in trailer spots,leaving rubbish behind, yahooing at all hours, etc.

The solution is exempting boats and trailers during holiday season but the cost of living will come down before that happens.In other words it won’t.

 

[bessell1955]

Thank you for the heads up!

[western on the beach]

Simple solution guys, un hitch the trailer. Both can be parked there as long as they are regoed and you’re now under 7.5 m combo. Not a fan of councils that work that way, give a bloke the benefit of the doubt.  But as they pointed out it’s combo length.  Split them, ( even a just a foot, take off chains and plug) now it’s not a combo, and under 7.5 m. take a time stamp pic, with an App like theodolite, what’s the worst that happens you have to go back to court and point out that both are considered light vehicles and not subject to heavy beach rules and regs.

they will soon get sick of it