City of Melville delays decision on new verge parking law

MELVILLE council has delayed adopting a new law that would forbid drivers from parking on local verges without permission.

The hotly debated clause 3.13 forms part of the proposed City of Melville Parking Local Law 2016 and reads: “A person, not being the occupier of the land abutting on to a street verge, shall not without consent of the occupier, park or stop a vehicle upon that verge.”

Deputy Mayor Cameron Schuster moved to defer the item to an elected member information session for further consideration of the safety issues that may arise from requiring vehicles to park wholly on the road.

Cr Schuster said it was dangerous to force drivers on to the wrong side of the road when overtaking parked vehicles and raised the prospect of allowing verge parking in selected parts of the City.

Crs Lisa O’Malley and Matthew Woodall were also in favour of the deferral, suggesting two-wheel verge parking may be appropriate at certain times or on certain streets.

Cr Nicholas Pazolli said the clause had merit and, rather than causing safety issues, would act as a traffic calming measure by requiring drivers to slow down on suburban streets to avoid cars parked on the road.

He also raised the point that even if verge parking were allowed, drivers remained free to park on the road at their discretion.

Speaking in support of the clause, Cr Guy Wieland said car-lined streets were a symptom of previous council decisions to reduce the parking requirements for medium and high-density developments.

The deferral motion was deadlocked 6-6 but carried on Mayor Russell Aubrey’s casting vote.

The City of Melville Parking Local Law 2016 will now be reassessed by councillors in conjunction with City staff before returning to a vote at a later date.