Mayor’s mum caught up in Japingka parking dispute
EXCLUSIVE: HOW many cars can you fit into three bays? In Fremantle, where parking breaches are taken very seriously, the answer apparently is four (pictured above).
High Street tenants sent StreetWise images of the foursome huddled behind the former Union Stores after City inspectors failed to show on Friday despite a May 17 warning: “One permit issued equals one vehicle only. Blocking of, or encroachment of an adjoining car bay, is not permitted. The City wishes to advise all tenants will have a grace period of two weeks before infringements are issued for the above, so those needing to secure alternative parking arrangements have time to do so.”
One tenant who pays $215 a month for a bay behind the heritage-listed building said it is unfair and a continuing breach of local parking laws with prescribed penalties of up to $5000: “They are freeloading off ratepayers and affecting how we use the bays.”
One of the cars encroaching on the tenant’s private bay belongs to Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge’s mother Jody, who works at Japingka Aboriginal art gallery.
“Even when I complain nothing gets done,” the tenant said, adding he raised his concerns with Deputy Mayor Frank Mofflin and CEO Glen Dougall. He said he also emailed Cr Fitzhardinge and sent photographs of her mother’s car parked in his bay.
Streetwise understands the CEO and staff visited the site last week including Japingka, which asked the City to find ways to increase parking at the rear.
Tenants were told the City will respond to Japingka, but in the meantime StreetWise understands the CEO has instructed staff not to enforce any parking infringements on any vehicles until its formal response is sent to all other tenancies.
Japingka did not want to comment today except to say, “The council are just going to do some work on sorting out the bays because there is an unevenness in the use of the car bays. It will be good in a month’s time”.
Curator David Roth confirmed Japingka had three rear bays, but when referred to the images of four cars regularly parked there, he hung up.
StreetWise has contacted the City for comment.
Freeloading for how long?
On May 1, 2021, Port Jarrah Furniture owner Clint Clarke wrote to the City to complain and offered to meet to try and resolve the issue after several verbal confrontations with Japingka staff: “This has been going on for over eight years. Last Friday I was told (by Japingka), ‘You can still fit in there. You’re not liked. Your car is embarrassing’. He then slammed his back door and made me wait another five minutes before the Mayor’s mother moved her car.”
Mr Clarke told the City he would refuse to pay for parking and block the bays with his truck: “The City has more than enough proof of photos that I have sent just in the last six months. There is also a sign stating of fines up to $5000 by the City. Why haven’t they been infringed?”
Mr Clarke told StreetWise he planned to lodge a formal complaint with the Department of Local Government and pursue the City for compensation for the times he was unable to access the bay.
These images were attached to emails sent to the City between May 14, 2021 and June 24, 2022:
* November 19, 2021: “Trying to park right now and can’t. Why are you letting this happen?”
* November 22, 2021: “Again four vehicles into three car bays. Pay for three and get the fourth free? How is this even possibly allowed when the City will fine any vehicle on the Main Street for incorrect parking or no ticket displayed. I require a month credit for all these parking problems with your tenant Japingka. Nothing has been done at all. You are not representing me under the commercial tenancy act as my landlord.”
* June 17, 2022: “Can you sort this out with fines please.”
* June 24, 2022: “Japingka has four cars in three bays again Now. Can you please have parking inspector come out and fine them as per your letter stated 17/5/22.”
