Council crackdown on illegal strip car sales

By Tania Martin
CAR dealerships across the Shire of Yarra Ranges will no longer be allowed to park cars for sale on nature strips after the council received legal advice on the practice.
The shire’s director of planning, building and health, James LamourReid, said the road rules of Victoria prohibited the parking of motor vehicles on nature strips, footpaths, median strips and bike paths.
The council was forced to address this issue after receiving numerous complaints about vehicles being parked on nature strips.
Mr LamourReid said that over a “considerable period of time” the council had, by verbal agreement, allowed motor car dealers on Maroondah Highway, Lilydale, to display vehicles on nature strips.
He said this had encouraged other traders and private citizens to display cars without consent.
In 1983 a verbal agreement was made with former car sales operator Noel Dight Holden in Lilydale, allowing the dealership to park vehicles for sale on the concrete apron in Anderson Street outside the dealership, providing the footpath was kept clear.
But Mr LamourReid said that since then five other dealerships along Maroondah Highway had started displaying cars on nature strips.
He said the council had received ongoing complaints regarding safety issues and amenity impacts associated with vehicles parked on nature strips and footpaths.
Heritage Holden, Lilydale, owner Don Cardamone said its cars had always been displayed out the front of the dealership.
Mr Cardamone said if the agreement to display the vehicles on the nature strip was discontinued it would have a big impact on his business.
Council last week agreed to undertake an education program to advise traders and residents of the road rules in relation to parking on nature strips.
Billanook Ward councillor Clive Larkman said the council could not give anyone permission to break the law.
“We don’t have a choice the law is the law,” Cr Larkman said.