Ratepayers fund private car park rangers

BY MICK ROBERTS

CITY parking rangers are issuing infringement notices in a privately owned Surry Hills car park after City of Sydney Council entered into an agreement with the owners of the property.
Ratepayers have been funding the rangers to patrol the Surry Hills Shopping Village car park since Council entered into the arrangement with the owners in December 2005.
“Under the Local Government Act 1993, landowners and councils can enter into an agreement for council rangers to enforce parking arrangements in privately owned car parks,’ a Council spokesperson told The City News.
‘The agreement was developed following complaints from the local community that the car park was inappropriately used for commuter parking, limiting access for shoppers,’ he said.
It is the only privately owned car park patrolled by rangers in the City of Sydney.
“Rangers patrol the City of Sydney local government area, including this car park area, as part of normal duties, but no rangers are allocated to solely patrol the car park,’ the spokesperson said.
He said residents and business owners frequently contact Council to request more ranger patrols to encourage turn over of parking spaces in shopping precincts and to discourage commuter parking in residential areas.
City Councillor Shayne Mallard said he was surprised that the Council’s resources were being used for such a purpose.
‘Councillors have not been told about this and I find it completely inappropriate,’ he said.
Cr Mallard said there were privately owned car parks throughout the City that experienced inappropriate commuter parking, limiting access for shoppers, and he questioned why the Surry Hills shopping centre had been chosen over others.
‘City rangers are patrolling a privately owned car park less then 200 metres from the home of the Lord Mayor (Clover Moore).’
He said it was another example of the Redfern area receiving more attention from Council then the rest of the city.
‘There are few parking spaces available in public streets around the city, where ranger resources could be better utilised,’ Cr Mallard said.