Peakhurst clearway changes anger aged care home families

Introduced on November 5, the changes extend the clearway time by an hour in the morning from 6am to 10am. An afternoon clearway time of 3pm to 7pm has also been introduced.

The changes make it difficult for families to pick up and drop their elderly relatives forcing them to have to park in surrounding residential streets including Waldo Crescent, which is usually full with residents' cars and has no pathway, or Jacques Avenue which has no pathway or lighting.

Bernadette Scadden, whose 92 year-old mother is a resident of Peakhurst Lodge, said she could understand the morning clearway, travelling west to east, being extended.

“But it is just beyond belief, common sense and comprehension that a clearway is warranted in the evenings at all. The peak in the evenings is travelling in the opposite direction, east to west,” she said.

Mrs Scadden said most visitors to the aged care home are older themselves.

“I have witnessed visitors exiting cars on Henry Lawson Drive using walkers and wheelchairs,” she said.

She added that some people parking in Jacques Avenue would find it dificent to walk across the park as there is no path or lighting, making the journey dangerous for those on their feet aud using the park at night.

“To add insult to injury, the parking officers were out the very first day of the new clearway to book any unsuspecting person who may not have noticed the change in parking times,” she said.

Allan Cooper visits his 97-year-old mother at Peakhurst Lodge every day and was fined $263 on the first day the afternoon clearway was introduced.

“The ranger was standing out the front of the home at 3pm and instead of walking in an warning people about the changes he just started booking people,” Mr Cooper said.

“Someone warned me and I went out and saw the car on the back of a tow truck ready to go. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a fine for the two truck as well as the parking infringement.”

Since he complained he said the RMS had stationed a staff member to warn people about the clearway changes.

Mr Cooper said there were also safety concerns about Peakhurst Lodge nurses being forced to walk across the park adjacent Peakhurst Lodge at night to get to their cars on Jacques Avenue.

Peakhurst Lodge management are asking that the clearway times be reduced.

The manager of the aged care home said that she met with RMS officers three times to discuss the effects the changes would have on the 110 residents at the home but their concerns have been ignored.

“We have 110 residents and that means a lot of family and visitors throughout the day and evening,” Peakhurst Lodge office assistant Marnie Skinner said.

“Many people who come to our facility to visit family or take their loved ones to appointments are elderly themselves. They are now not allowed to park out the front until 10am and even worse, they are not allowed to park out the front anymore from 3pm to 7pm when the traffic is not a problem.

“From most people’s point of view this is just revenue raising. To have parking inspectors out on the very first day and having people towed away and fined was disgusting.

“Couldn’t they not just come into the facility and given us a pleasant reminder. Give a warning first. What if it belonged to an elderly person? This absolutely disgusting treatment of the elderly.”

Peakhurst Lodge facility manager Esther Chan  said the clearway changes have had a great impact on a lot of families.

“Families are upset and angry,” she said.

“This affects not only our 110 residents but 110 families. If they cannot park outside they have to park in nearby streets. Families say they are being abused by residents for parking there. They have to drop off and pick up our elderly residents for appointments.

“The RMS is not really considering that this is an aged care facility.”

A Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson the clearways were introduced following community consultation.

“Following community consultation, new weekday clearways became operational on Henry Lawson Drive on Monday 5 November. The clearways operate in both directions during the weekday peak hours only, from 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm.

“The aged care home has a driveway and covered entry which allows for pick up and drop off of relatives at the door of the home and there is an onsite basement car park,” the spokesperson said.

“Outside of clearway hours, parking conditions on Henry Lawson Drive remain unchanged. On weekdays, parking on Henry Lawson Drive is available for visitors from 10am to 3pm and after 7pm. Parking on Henry Lawson Drive is available at all times on weekends.

“During clearway hours, if visitor parking cannot be accommodated in the basement carpark, on-street parking is available for visitors on adjacent side streets including Jacques Avenue and Waldo Crescent.”