Ticketed by council’s roving vehicle

A Tauranga woman has called into question council’s carpark ning methods after its roving vehicle failed to pick up on her mobility card and issued an infringement.

Morgan Byrt has several disabilities which causes her di culty walking and requires fast access to her vehicle due to fainting. She has a mobility permit issued by disability support and advocacy organisation CCS Disability Action to enhance her accessibility to spaces in the community.

In May, Morgan was parked in a standard parking space outside Repco Tauranga when she was issued a parking infringement. “We’re forced out of the actual

Electricity upgrade

Transpower is exploring options for essential upgrades to its electricity network in the Western Bay of Plenty and is calling on feedback from the community.

Transpower is working in partnership with Powerco, the local lines company, on an integrated Development Plan for investment in both electricity networks to ensure the Western Bay of Plenty has the electricity supply it needs to continue to ourish, now and in the future.

Transpower’s John Clarke says the rapid population growth and economic development in the region means the power networks will need upgrades, expansions and enhancements. More information is available on the Transpower website.

Tax fraud

A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for tax fraud.

Phillip John Smith, 47, has been in prison since 1995 on non-tax related charges and was sentenced on 17 July to two years imprisonment on tax fraud charges. Smith was charged with dishonestly using documents intending to obtain a pecuniary advantage, namely a Small Business Cash ow Scheme application to Inland Revenue; 17 GST returns; and an income tax return. e total fraud added up to $66,197.62. Smith mobility spaces because of the roadworks and everything... then because the [council] roving vehicle doesn’t check our windscreen, we’re then given a $40 ne.” TCC rules for vehicles displaying a valid mobility card allow for double a parking time restriction (maximum two hours), and card-users are

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News tips ph 0800 SUNLIVE permitted to pay half of their parking time needed. Morgan was parked in the space for 15 minutes when she was issued the ne. Council waived the ne with a warning, but Morgan says the ne is not the issue.

“I don’t give a crap about the ticket. It’s $40. It’s the fact that the council knows they’re making a mistake… the practice is discriminatory. ey don’t intend for it to be discriminatory – it just is, so they need to stop it.”

She adds: “It’s the council’s responsibility to maintain and ticket mobility spaces according to their own laws and bylaws. ey should be doing their due diligence received $53,593.41 and was ordered to pay full reparations on that amount.

Mount theft arrest

One person is in custody after a theft at a Mount Maunganui store worth more than $1000.

A police spokesperson says Police responded to reports of a theft on Macdonald St at 2.50pm on Tuesday.

“Members of the public held the individual at the scene until police arrived. One person was taken into custody.

“A 37-year-old man is due to appear in Tauranga District Court this week on charges of shoplifting (over $1000). Enquiries are ongoing.”

Full Mauao closure next week when they’re ticketing to ensure they’re not ticketing illegally.” e council’s two roving vehicles use Licence Plate Recognition technology to capture a vehicle’s location and check for valid parking payments against the vehicle’s registration.

Mauao will be closed to the public next week. Tauranga City Council is planning on removing eight large exotic trees located on the Pilot Bay/Waikorire side of the mountain to ensure the archaeological preservation of the area.

Several trees fell during Cyclone Gabrielle and others are deteriorating, damaging the archaeological terraces near the base track. e trees will be removed using a helicopter to minimise damage to the land below, similar to works undertaken in 2022.

A full closure of Mauao is scheduled between 5am Tuesday, July 25, until 5pm Wednesday, July 26. Pilot Quay and the boat ramp and carpark near Pilot Bay will be closed from 7am Monday, July 24, until 5pm Friday, July 28.

“Council use LPR technology to enforce paid parking o ences in the CBD as it is the most e ective method currently used in the parking industry,” says TCC regulation monitoring team leader Stuart Goodman. “ is technology also drives compliance levels due to the increased chance of receiving an infringement for parking illegally.

“ e LPR is not used to enforce mobility carparks – this is still done by o cers on foot – only paid parking o ences.”

However, in Morgan’s situation she was using her mobility card in a standard carpark, meaning the roving vehicle would not identify her permit.

“On this occasion, the driver was parked in a standard parking space and did not pay for parking.

“Council were not aware of the driver’s mobility card but has since added their registration to our system,” says Stuart. “In future, if she does pay, we will double the time she can park for. Read this story in full at: www.sunlive.co.nz