Parking cheats in for a surprise

Alex de Vos
Motorists could be in for a nasty surprise after Geelong’s City Hall revealed parking inspectors were still out in force despite a council strike.
Motorists who thought they were taking advantage of free parking amid reports the inspectors were off patrol could face an avalanche of fines after the strike ends.
Last month the city’s bin collectors and parking inspectors walked off the job as their union pushed for a 14 per cent pay rise, leaving rubbish blowing through the streets and meters unattended.
Work bans included refusals to issue or process fines. But this week an Independent employee witnessed city officers marking tyres and writing down vehicle registration details in central Moorabool Street. None of the parked vehicles had parking tickets.
A City spokesperson confirmed parking and information officers were continuing to “monitor vehicle movements”, which included marking tyres and taking “relevant notes for future use”.
The news that inspectors were still partly on the job came as a marketing body for central Geelong sent a troop of “parking elves” onto city streets with coins for shoppers.
The elves drew criticism that they were wasting money helping motorists pay for parking while inspectors were supposedly on strike.
Central Geelong Marketing executive officer Jodie Smith-Reyntjes said the elves would continue putting money in meters amid the strike.
She said the elves had “strong support” among businesses and shoppers.
“They don’t feed meters – they meet motorists when they are putting money in the meter and provide a 50cent contribution,” Ms Smith-Reyntjes said.
“They also give out information, chocolate and spread goodwill – it would be a shame to lose them.”
City of Greater Geelong executives and union officials have been in talks on the wages dispute for months.
The union wants a 14 per cent increase over three years. The City has offered three annual rises of 3.75 per cent.