$10,000 parking windfall Author: By JACQUI JONES Civic Reporter Date: 10/07/2008 Publication: Newcastle Herald
THE NSW State Age Netball Championships brought plenty of visitors and financial benefits to the Hunter Region, including about $10,000 in parking fine revenue to Newcastle City Council.
Many visitors to the three-day event, which wrapped up on Monday, were still reeling yesterday about getting booked.
The council said yesterday it acted to protect pedestrians' safety and had made efforts to make parking available for the tournament.
But councillor Helene O'Neill believes more could have been done to work with tournament organisers to help alleviate parking problems.
The council issued 75 parking fines of $138 each.
Cr O'Neill said yesterday she received many calls from people who attended the championships and returned to their cars to find a parking ticket.
"This event has reaped a windfall economically for the city and that's the welcome mat we put out," she said.
"I don't condone people who break the law.
"But when we have visitors to Newcastle we have to make sure they have a full understanding of the rules and that they're catered for."
A council spokeswoman said yesterday the parking fines were issued to vehicles parked on footpaths or median strips that were compromising pedestrian safety.
She said the council made No.1 Sportsground available for car parking and helped organisers with bus parking areas and getting marshals.
Netball organisers did not approach the council about opening parking venues, the spokeswoman said.