SMBI Island residents have formally called on Redland City Council to temporarily suspend parking fines at Redland Bay Marina, arguing the current system is causing widespread financial and emotional hardship.
Macleay Island resident Les Barkla presented the plea to Council on February 18, 2026, speaking on behalf of 165 petitioners from the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI), North Stradbroke Island, Coochiemudlo Island and Redland Bay.
Addressing councillors, Mr Barkla said many residents were struggling under what he described as relentless enforcement in the face of inadequate infrastructure.
“You can’t keep sucking blood out of a stone by fining them when clearly parking infrastructure is not adequate,” he told the chamber.
“Stressed, anxious and angry”
Mr Barkla said the petitioners included veterans, people with disabilities and residents with serious health issues, as well as shift workers and essential workers who rely on ferry services to commute daily.
“For many reasons, these people are frankly stressed, anxious, and angry over the lack of parking infrastructure, relentless and continuous parking fines, damage to vehicles that mainland and island parking precincts, and real safety concerns,” he said.
He added that Redland Bay residents were also frustrated, describing streets clogged with long-term parking, blocked driveways and increased noise.
After launching the e-petition, Mr Barkla said he received “many comments and personal messages about the relentless parking fine issues,” not only from SMBI residents but also from North Stradbroke and Coochiemudlo islanders.
Precedent for “compassionate compliance”
Central to the submission was a call for Council to follow its own precedent from 2020, when modified parking arrangements were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A precedent exists for Redlands City Council compassionate compliance, suspension, of fines during periods of disruption, through temporary measures, as approved, in the 2020 COVID 19 Social and Economic Citizens package, modified parking arrangements,” Mr Barkla said.
“This demonstrates council capacity for responsive governance changes.”
The written background report accompanying the submission argues that since Covid-19, commuter demand has increased significantly, with 1,260 new homes approved on SMBI since 2023 but limited additional parking spaces.
Mr Barkla told councillors there appeared to be an internal policy contradiction.
“There is frustration from residents, where there appears to be clear conflict within council. Whereby one department can approve 1,260 new dwellings on SMBI since 2023. Yet another department explains the resulting pressures through parking fines,” he said.
Safety and hardship concerns
The submission outlines concerns about lighting, CCTV, signage, potholes and pedestrian access at Redland Bay Marina, Toondah Harbour, Victoria Point and island precincts.
Mr Barkla said residents had reported significant financial distress.
The background report states that families, seniors, veterans and vulnerable groups “report significant personal and financial distress stemming from repeated infringement notices and safety concerns,” with some struggling to pay basic living costs due to unexpected fines.
In his address, Mr Barkla acknowledged Council’s obligations.
“I acknowledge the need for council to enforce strict parking regulations based on state legislation, local laws,” he said, also recognising additional parking spaces delivered in recent years and plans for a future multi-level car park.
However, he argued that enforcement without adequate infrastructure was unfair.
“The harsh reality is, there are serious systematic parking infrastructure and fine enforcement issues that you, as our elected representative and council officers, need to understand and address.”
Community recommendations
The petition calls for:
- A priority meeting with community members at Redland Bay Marina
- “Compassionate compliance” through a temporary suspension of fines
- Establishment of a hardship protocol
- Fast-tracked short, interim and long-term parking and transport solutions
Suggested measures include issuing parking permits for bona fide SMBI residents, converting grassed areas to additional parking, reopening a fenced Meissner Street lot for 18-hour worker parking, increasing disabled parking spaces and extending four-hour zones to 18 or 24 hours for shift workers.
Mr Barkla concluded with a direct appeal to councillors.
“Our plea to you today is for council to understand, appreciate. Listen to our issues and work with us,” he said.
He said he had provided councillors with a two-page summary of issues and recommendations, adding, “There is a lot more.”
