Parking on the Nature Strip along Majura Avenue

I’m not sure about the actual laws or whether they differ between suburbs but here in waramanga he have no footpaths (although the roads are a quieter and have a sloped gutter) and we put gravel down over our “verge” where the only government property is a streetlight and we use this are to park without hassle. I think the reason they may not want you to park in your area is to maintain the amenity (of course without them spending any money, only making it through fines) of the street-scape by keeping the grass and trees alive.

From the photo it looks like there is plenty of room in front yards to add in extra gravel or concrete parking area if you want, it might preclude having a nice garden but if you own a number of cars then it’s really a choice you make. The only problem I have is when people block the path with their parking either on the nature strip or the driveway.

I also wish the government would fine people who park on the nature reserve (this is actual parkland) near my house, of course most of those people are government contractors landscaping one area as they destroy another with their utes.

easy solution – develop the nature strips and build dwellings for the vertically challenged among us, who don’t take up as much room as the rest of us big’uns. everything else is being developed around that area, so it will just blend in and in another 30 years time they won’t believe you when you tell of this ‘parking’ mallarky that so vexes you now..!

Clearly, the solution is beer.

AFC, just a short stagger away. But be sure to sign up, at least.

Doesn’t really get to the point I know but what else for it. Come on, you’re practically in town. Sure it may not be as safe as it used to be, demographics changing and what not, but hey you bought into the VIBRANT city bs, well here it is, mod cons and all.

My understanding was that parking on the nature strip ends up killing the street trees because the soil gets compressed. Maybe a tree-loving neighbour has made a complaint recently?

My mate lives in one of those houses along there. He’s always having to put up with the idiots in that photo with their two cars on the lawn. There’s normally 2-3 cars there most of the time, and last time he checked about 4 months ago one of them wasn’t registered. Given that it is illegal to park on the median strip, they’re not even supposed to be there. But you know what? For the sake of neighbourhood peace he ignores it. He figures if that’s the worst problem he has, then he’s doing pretty well. Mind you his dad grumbles like an old fart about it. Probably because he’s an old fart.

Gungahlin Al said :

“Nature strip” – such a cute Canberra-ism for what the rest of Australia calls a verge.

Although…the way some people maintain (or not) theirs, it does seem to be reverting to nature.

In Melbourne we always called them nature strips too.

Chop71 said :

suck it up princess.

You choose to live there, you choose to own a car, you can also choose where you park it.
Now I see YOU have 2 choices. Move your car or get a ticket.

Of course, 30 years ago this wasn’t actually an issue. Basically your argument is that if you choose to live in a house, and then conditions change due to government action, you should still suck it up. Rather than, you know, deal with it in a manner that really doesn’t cause too many problems.

A lot of inner North houses have garages in the back yard with a single lane entrance. Anyone with two cars either does the car shuffle or parks on the street. Of course, everyone parks on the street and, as a result, trucks or even some large cars cant get through. Naturally this is a far more preferable way of doing things than just allowing people to park on the nature strip.

The nature strips on Majura Ave are pretty big, too, which certainly helps negate any sight line issues for cars reversing out and the like.

It’s bureaucracy for bureaucracy’s sake, really.

Parking in the left lane would be an accident waiting to happen. You’d do well to last 24 hours without finding a car in your boot I reckon.

They’d make a killing if they came down to Kambah.

woppadingo said :

You guys should shuddup!!!! Its an age old practice to park on ‘your’ own nature strip.

You should ‘shuddup’ and do some learning. Firstly, an Astrological age is regarded to be approximately 2150 years long. We haven’t had cars for 2150 years so how can it possible be an ‘age old practice’?

Secondly, ‘shuddup’ is not a word. The correct terminology is ‘Shut up’ nor, in polite company ‘Please be quiet’. Also one exclamtion mark has the same meaning as three. there is no reason to add extras.

woppadingo said :

my dad did a get a ticket for parking there a few years ago, but fought it and did not have to pay the fine.

Was it “because of the vibe”?

We had the same problem when living on Morphett St in Dickson across from Dara. We had 5 members in the house and had 4 cars and a boat (don’t ask…) to fit in the driveway/front lawn. We could get that damn boat and 3 cars in there but always had to park one on the nature strip if we were all home or if someone had taken the bus or walked to uni.

After nearly getting a ticket, and asking the inspector what we could do short of stacking the cars on top of each other, I called the ACT Government and the answer was “nothing”. We just made sure someone had a eye out on the street for inspectors if we were all home. i understand it’s a pain, and I personally think that you should be able to prove you live in that house and be exempt from fines for parking on your nature strip. But until you or I make the laws I don’t see any way around it.

One other factor is that having cars or other stuff blocking nature strips is a disincentive for pedestrians , especially when there is no footpath there. If there is no footpath, it’s good to have a clear nature strip.

woppadingo said :

Its an age old practice to park on ‘your’ own nature strip.

so was drink driving, not wearing your seatbelt, or (until recently) smoking in your car with the kids in the back seat. Just because its an “age old practice” doesn’t make it right.

“Nature strip” – such a cute Canberra-ism for what the rest of Australia calls a verge.

Although…the way some people maintain (or not) theirs, it does seem to be reverting to nature.

You guys should shuddup!!!!
Its an age old practice to park on ‘your’ own nature strip. Technically it might be government land, but so is the land your house is on – its a 99 year lease. Also I dont see the government mowing my front nature strip. I have to do it myself. I dont live on Majura avenue. I live in another part of Canberra where we often have a car or two parked on the nature strip. We even have some pavers down in that area. my dad did a get a ticket for parking there a few years ago, but fought it and did not have to pay the fine.

Henry82 said :

The nature strip doesn’t belong to you, it’s owned by the council

0_0

Majura Ave’s been expropriated by NSW?

Henry82 said :

The council is probably clamping down because having cars parked everywhere looks tacky, and hypothetically it poses a risk as people can’t see what’s behind your car (relevant near intersections).

I wish the “council” would do that around Gungahlin.

Firstly it looks like sh*t having people park on nature strips. Secondly and more importantly it’s dangerous for people reversing out of their driveways if parked cars are blocking their view of traffic…

johnboy said :

Yes, because society is so much better served by people parking on a busy road and blocking a lane, rather than harmlessly putting them on the nature strip.

Exactly my point. if the road it blocked up with cars, maybe they will start letting people park on the nature strip. Especially since they do anyway on 97.5% of suburban roads in Canberra.

Perhaps you could erect a sign on your property, facing the road and informing passing motorists of how they can use your street more appropriately.

This law irritates me, not due to its existence, but because of its massively varied application.

That said, if it legal to park on the road, then I would do that.

Yes, because society is so much better served by people parking on a busy road and blocking a lane, rather than harmlessly putting them on the nature strip.

suck it up princess.

You choose to live there, you choose to own a car, you can also choose where you park it.
Now I see YOU have 2 choices. Move your car or get a ticket.

“inappropriate use of Majura Avenue as an arterial road”

Well, it does have four lanes; it’s not exactly a one way road is it.

Aside from that, I agree, you should be able to park on your nature strip.

The nature strip doesn’t belong to you, it’s owned by the council, however its your responsibility to maintain it. The council is probably clamping down because having cars parked everywhere looks tacky, and hypothetically it poses a risk as people can’t see what’s behind your car (relevant near intersections). As for your garden example (which is less likely to lower the decorum of the area), if it grows too high, they’ll ask you to cut it down to an appropriate level.

Looking at the cars parked on the nature strips on street view, it seems to be used for laziness & convenience (a quick getaway) rather than for genuine lack of driveway space. If I was you, I’d organise the troops in the street, and then start parking cars on the street 24/7 as per the current parking rules until the council gives in, or they erect no parking signs.

I have often wondered what the point of four lanes was on this section of Majura between Wakefield Ave and Cowper Street. As you say, with all the extra development there, and with many of those townhouses likely to become share-houses with 2 or 3 cars to park, it’s inevitable that some residents will need to park outside of their garage and on the street.

The orientation of that bit of Majura Ave needs to change, but of course moving gutters and relaying asphalt isn’t a cheap operation.

My suggestions, in order of cost 🙂

Solution 1: Leave lanes as is but allow parking. Implement Canberra’s first tow away clearway from 4-6pm Monday to Friday Northbound, 7:30 to 9:30am M-F Citybound.

Solution 2: Re-orientation of lanes… given almost all motor vehicles turn left at cowper street to go to Dickson, with only a small amount heading straight ahead towards Hackett, are two northbound lanes needed for that entire section of Majura? Why not close the northbound left lane between wakefield and 200m short of Cowper St, convert it to on street parking?

Solution 3: If four lanes at that point of Majura is deemed critical, widen Majura Ave to allow on street parking and cycle lanes.

Solution 4: Free up Northbourne by providing more viable public transport between City and Gungahlin. Bus and/or cycle lanes down the middle of Northbourne may help?

Nature strips are part of the road reservation and as such belong to the owner of the road ie the Government.

“parking on our own nature strips” are they not government owned? I always thought you had the responisbilty to keep it tidy, but had no ownership of it as a piece of private property. am i wrong?