Santa wasn’t so jolly when he found a parking fine attached to his car, after spending four hours listening to kids’ wish-lists in December last year.
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Santa, aka Edwin Power, started his shift at 11am in Nowra’s CBD, and claims that there were no all-day parking spaces available at the time.
He wrote a note to rangers on his car, to let them know he had a four-hour shift at the mall, and couldn’t leave his post.
Shoalhaven Council rangers did not empathise.
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“It’s pretty mean of council,” Mr Power said.
“It was in a two-hour zone in Nowra, near the RSL, but at 11am you can’t get all-day parking anywhere.
“Locals that work there take them all up in the morning.
“I’m not going to go and be Santa again.”
He wrote to South Coast MP Shelley Hancock who made representations to the Revenue NSW on behalf of Santa.
However, her request to have the fine waived was not successful.
“Unfortunately a handwritten sign on a car cannot be used to allow longer time in allocated spaces,” a council spokesperson said.
“The community are welcome to apply to council for specific allowance in certain circumstances but these must be approved prior to occupation of the space.”
As for inadequate parking in the CBD, there are plans under way for a multi-storey car park.
“Council has been working on car parking for the Nowra CBD with planning for the multi-storey car park in Worrigee Street and this is continuing with the Joint Regional Planning Panel,” council’s spokesperson said.
“The revitalisation and enhancement of the CBD continues to be a priority for council.”
