DISABLED PARKING BAY FACTS

1- To obtain a Disability Permit, the applicant must submit a Doctors Certificate to Transport & Main Roads for approval.

2- A Disability Permit holder can park in a Disabled Parking bay without time limits!

3- It is illegal to park in a Disabled Parking bay without a Permit displayed = $667 fine

4- It is illegal to park in a Disabled Parking bay using another's Permit = $667 fine

5- It is illegal to park on the yellow lines between Disabled Parking bays = $667 fine

6- Parking for longer than 20min in the 2 dedicated Disabled Parking bays = $667 fine

7- It is the QLD Police's responsibility to enforce infringement to Disabled Parking bays

The Disability Parking Permit enables an individual, with a qualifying disability, to maintain an individual independent life, thus not being a burden on the QLD Health System.

This right to independence is enshrined in the TMR document 'Access rights under Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport’ ie: Translink ferries.

DISABLED PARKING MACLEAY ISLAND FERRY TERMINAL

There are 12 Disabled Parking Bays at the Macleay Island Ferry Terminal.

Permit users often occupy a bay for more than a day - witnessed on 2 occasions, 5 consecutive days taken!!!

Whilst legal, these Permit holders show no consideration for others! refer 'Survey'.

On weekdays, any free bays, typically 8 bays, are frequently all taken by 7am.

According to TMR, there are 141 active Disability Parking Permits on Macleay Island.

Chances are a Disability Permit holder will not find a vacant bay.....what next?

1) Go home and reschedule your medical appointment.

2) Park in an often vacant 7-Day Boat Trailer bay - risking a RCC fine of $167.

3) Park on the Yellow lines separating Disabled Parking bays risking a fine of $667.

4) Go home and get a Taxi - Pat's Park return is $30.50 (Couples Age Pension = ~$670/wk)

From RCC Red-E-Maps aerial view

TYPICAL WEEKDAY DISABLED PARKING: FERRY TERMINAL

Download Survey PDF

From RCC Red-E-Maps aerial view

DISABILITY PERMIT holders dilemma.

The ferry is about to leave, there are no available Disabled Parking bays....and you see plenty of vacant parking at the nearby 7-Day Boat Trailer park.

Angina Hill is impossible due to your disability - So, you park in a vacant bay, knowing it is illegal and there is the risk of a RCC $167 fine.

Please see below some real-life stories

BTW - open water wind conditions at Banana Bank were observed via an app at the same survey time.....95% of the days were ideal boating conditions

Example of desperation: little red car parked on yellow lines between two Disabled Parking bays = $667 fine

A Disability Permit was displayed - the Permit holder was desperate to get on a ferry.

This desperation has been observed on multiple occasions.

A 14 day Survey (10am) realised how under-utilised the 7-Day Boat Trailer parking is.

Most trailers observed = 5, Lest observed = 0. Average is 3.5 boat trailers at 10am each weekday = 35% utilised.

Request: 'Concession' to Disability Permit holders

After conducting the 14-day Survey of the 7-Day Boat Trailer Parking, it was very clear that this zone is significantly underutilised.

It was clear that this Zone could adequately act as an overflow for Disability Permit holders when no Disabled Parking bays were available.

A request was sent to RCC suggesting a 'Concession' be offered to such Permit holders, providing the Disability Permit was displayed. The 'Survey' was provided to RCC as proof of usage.

The 'Concession' was to be a temporary measure until such time as further Disabled Parking was developed. Eg: the old toilet block vacant land.

Redland City Council rejected the suggestion and will continue to fine cars with displayed Disability Permits in that Zone: see attached email snip.

Redland City Council rejection is clearly disability discrimination as this impedes the independence, accorded to the disabled, by TMR document 'Access rights under Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport’ ie: Translink ferries.

This was one of the grounds of Disability Discrimination Complaint evidence filed to Transport and Main Roads

How quickly can Redland City Council approve the 'concession' request?

On approval of Mayor Jos Mitchell - Louise Rusan, the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) can issue a MEMO instructing Parking Officers to IGNORE illegal parking when a Disability Permit is displayed.

This could be enacted within 24hrs of the CEO approval.

Only cost to Redland City Council is less income from parking fines.