Cessnock Mayor frustrated by the rangers disgraceful act

Cessnock Mayor frustrated by the rangers disgraceful act

Rangers employed by Cessnock City Council are under fire, after handing out fines during a natural disaster to people who have moved their cars to higher ground to avoid being flooded and trapped in their houses.

One resident was handed a $283 fine for moving their car to higher ground and parking on a nature strip. Given the unfolding situation, rangers should be stood down from their regular duties and utilized in a way to help the community in times of need rather than causing unnecessary stress on people already finding it tough.

Cessnock Mayor, Jay Suvaal, was extremely disappointed and angry to see residents having to deal with parking fines given the unfolding emergency that was occurring in the Cessnock LGA.

I am as frustrated and angry about this situation as everyone. I unfortunately don’t have the power to intervene in this fine and its illegal for Councillors to tell Rangers who they can and cannot fine, but I have asked the General Manager to investigate it as a matter of urgency and see what can be done.

I would like to see this fine cancelled (but that is outside the power I have) and have requested a formal response be provided to the resident involved.

As everyone would know I don’t support the current parking on nature strip laws and have recently written to the NSW Government to request that council be allowed to change the rules. Currently we can only abide by the NSW Road Rules.

I’m disappointed to see this as residents shouldn’t have to be dealing with these issues while trying to keep vehicles safe during flooding and I will do what I can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Jay Suvaal Mayor of Cessnock

These fines come after Cessnock Council’s flip-flopping on parking policies last year, which has seen the end of the 3 metre rule for parking on nature strips.

Let’s just hope common sense prevails without the intervention of the court system.

If you have received a fine during the floods please send us a message on our Facebook page or email us at info@myhuntervalley.com.