Parking Regulations

If you have been issued with an infringement notice the following options apply:

• Option 1: Pay in full
• Option 2: Apply to pay by instalments
• Option 3: Review of an infringement
• Option 4: Nominate another driver 
• Option 5: Elect to go to court

Option 1: Pay in full

You can pay your infringement notice in full, within 28 days, in person at one of Council’s Customer Service Centres, or post a cheque or money order to Fraser Coast Regional Council PO Box 1943, Hervey Bay Qld 4655, or at any Post Office by the due date.

Option 2: Apply to pay by instalments

Payment plans can be arranged with Council on amounts over $200.00. To do this a minimum payment of $60.00 must be paid to Council within 28 days from the date of issue, with the outstanding portion being forwarded to State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) where all future dealings will be conducted between the offender and SPER. This can be organised by calling Council on 1300 79 49 29 or in person at one of Council’s Customer Service Centres.

Option 3 - Review of an infringement

To apply for a review of an infringement, you must complete the Penalty Infringement Notice - Review Request form  within 28 days of receiving the infringement notice. Council has an Infringement Reviews factsheet, please ensure that you read and understand this factsheet before submitting an application for a review.

Infringement review applications submitted without supporting evidence or without enough information to decide the application may be automatically declined.

Once you submit an infringement review request:

• Your infringement will be placed on hold.
• You will not need to make any payment whilst we review your infringement.
• We aim to consider reviews (where possible) within 4 weeks of your submission of your request.
• We will notify you via your nominated review outcome decision notice method of service as soon as a decision has been made.

Infringement reviews are undertaken by an authorised officer in a Senior position and the issuing officer is not involved in the review decision.

Option 4: Nominate another driver (vehicle related offences only)

To nominate another driver (known user declaration) you must complete the Penalty Infringement Notice - Review Request form within 28 days of receiving the infringement notice and submit along with along with a statutory declaration stating the name and address of the person who was in charge of the vehicle at the relevant time.

A statutory declaration can be found on the Queensland Government Publication Portal here.

Option 5: Elect to go to court

If you wish to elect to go to court, complete the relevant section on the back of the infringement notice and return it to Council.

Please note: If none of the above options is chosen within 28 days of the infringement notice, Council will refer the matter to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) for enforcement. Once lodged with SPER, an enforcement order will be issued, and additional fees will apply.

Self-Assessment Checklist - Grounds not considered for waiver of infringements:

Before lodging an appeal for consideration to waiver/withdraw the infringement, please make sure you do not fall into one of the categories below.  If after reading you still believe you have grounds for appeal, complete an application form and Statutory Declaration and submit to Council within 28 days of issue of Infringement Notice.

Ticket machine areas

• Purchased ticket but not displayed on dashboard as required;
• Ticket upside down on the dashboard; or
• Not seeing the signs or ticket machines.

Metered spaces

• The meter has expired when you return to your vehicle;
• Not inserting sufficient coins to allow for unexpected delays;
• No coins/not having adequate coins to insert into meter immediately upon parking; or
• Feeding the wrong meter.

Disabled parking spaces

• Parking in a disabled space without displaying a valid Disabled Parking Permit at any time day or night.

Commercial vehicle loading zone

• Not displaying a valid commercial vehicle permit issued by Fraser Coast Regional Council; or
• Classification as “commercial use” by Queensland Transport.

Timed parking

• Vehicle parked longer than the time limit specified on the signs.

Bus zones

• Vehicle not classified as a bus – ie carries less than 13 seated persons including the driver.

Taxi zone

• Vehicle other than taxi not permitted.

No parking anytime

• Stopping in a no parking zone for longer than two (2) minutes and driver not present at vehicle.

No stopping anytime

• Parking a vehicle in a “No Stopping” zone;
• Stopping on a road with a continuous yellow edge line; or
• Stopping within 10m of an intersection without traffic lights.

Parking/stopping on nature strips or footpath

• Parking or stopping a vehicle on a nature strip or footpath.

In addition to the above, PINs will generally not be withdrawn for the following reasons:

• Being unaware of the law or not seeing the sign;
• Disagreeing with the law. You may feel the offence for which the infringement notice has been issued is too trivial or did not cause hazard;
• Appointment was delayed (excluding oncology or dialysis); or
• Stopped briefly in restricted zone.

Financial Hardship

• It should be noted that the inability to pay the infringement (financial hardship) would not be considered a reason to withdraw an infringement. The review officer may offer an extension of time in which to finalise payment of the infringement.

• For infringement penalty amounts over $200.00, the affected person may elect to enter into a voluntary instalment plan with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry after making an initial payment of $60.00 to Council.

An infringement may be waivered or withdrawn in the following circumstances:

• The elements of the offence were not met - 
  If upon examination of the evidence, it appears that all elements of the offence were not met/satisfied, it may be appropriate to withdraw the infringement. Circumstances may include where an infringement contains incorrect information or was not issued correctly, or the issuing of the infringement was based on mistake of fact.
• A person has been incorrectly named as the offender - 
  This typically occurs when an infringement is issued to the registered owner of a vehicle, and that person was not in control of the vehicle at the time the offence occurred.
• A reasonable excuse - 
  • The affected person has a reasonable excuse for not complying with the relevant provisions of the law (example a medical emergency).
  • The affected person was unable to comply with the relevant provisions of the law due to a circumstance outside of their control (example regulatory signage removed/damaged).
• Incorrect details -
  Examples: Date of infringement, vehicle registration.
   
• Medical emergencies
  An appointment was delayed for oncology or dialysis treatment.
   
• Vehicle malfunctions
   Engine break down, broken axle, power failure.

Providing evidence and additional supporting information

It is important that sufficient supporting evidence is provided/attached when the request to waiver/withdraw is lodged. This supporting evidence assists council in making an informed decision.

Supporting evidence can include:

• Photographs or diagrams;
• Vehicle repair receipt/s;
• Statutory Declaration -
  • Advising the vehicle has been sold (copy of transfer papers or receipt of sale must be provided);
  • Advising Illegal use - written advice or crime report from the Queensland Police Service must be provided;
  • If you were not the driver of the vehicle, indicating who the driver was at the time the infringement notice was issued. Include the name and contact details of the driver; or
  • To include copies of medical certificates or other proof to support your case.

From March 2011, the Australian Disability Parking Permit replaced the existing Queensland Blue and Red disability parking permits.

The Australian Disability Parking Permit (which is also blue) provides permit holders with a universal permit design recognised in every state of Australia.

If you currently have an old Queensland Blue or Red disability permit, you must comply with the conditions of the permit until its expiry date.

Red permits are no longer issued to new applicants but if you already have a red permit, you may reapply for another when your permit expires.

Below maps show disability parking and services available in Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

• Maryborough (PDF,348kB)
• Pialba (PDF,617kB)
• Scarness (PDF,326kB)
• Torquay (PDF, 312kB)
• Urangan (PDF, 464kB)

Information can also be found on Fact Sheet - Disability Parking (PDF)

If you are wishing to sell or hire your vehicle you must not park on land or a road (including the footpath or nature strip) under Council's control.

Council officers may issue fines to vehicle owners breaching these regulations.

Parking illegally in these areas may obstruct the pedestrian and/or motorist's vision putting children at risk.

Pick up and drop off areas are often situated in school zones to allow parents and guardians to safely drop off or pick up children.  

These areas are indicated by signage noting the short time limit that applies.

A driver may stop in a loading zone if undertaking the following: 

• Section 179 (1) (a), (b),(c) - A bus, truck or motor vehicle is dropping off or picking up passengers – they must not stay longer than 30 minutes; or
• Section 179 (1) (d) (i) a driver may only stay 20 minutes if picking up goods; or
• Section 179 (1) (d) (ii) a driver may stay only two minutes or if the driver is dropping off or picking up a person with a disability– five minutes 

A breach of this section has a maximum penalty – 20 penatly units

A no stopping zone is indicated by a yellow line or signage.  

These zones refer to the whole road reserve to the left of the signage or markings, including the footpath or unformed section adjacent to the road, not just the formed section of road.

It is an offence to park on a nature strip or path adjacent to a road.

A vehicle must not be parked within three (3) metres of:

• Another vehicle parked immediately opposite
• Restricting the distance to less than three (3) metres may restrict emergency vehicle access.
• If a vehicle is parked on a street restricting the through lane to less than three (3) metres then the Police should be contacted.

Unless otherwise signed, the following rules apply at intersections to park at least:

• 10 metres from an intersection without traffic lights
• 20 metres from an intersection with traffic lights

Unless otherwise signed, the following rules apply at pedestrian crossings and bus stops to park at least:

• 20 metres before pedestrian crossing or bus stop
• 10 metres after pedestrian crossing of bus stop

Many popular areas of the Fraser Coast have marked parking bays that are time-limited.

Vehicles should not be parked for longer than the time permitted. Penalties may apply.

Longer stayed parking

To view long term parking areas in the Maryborough CBD please click on the map below.

• Longer stay parking - Maryborough 

Timed parking

Please refer to the Parking Information Booklet.

Paid parking

The Hervey Bay airport is the Fraser Coast's only paid parking area.

Fraser Coast Regional Council’s SafePark initiative uses Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) technology installed onto hybrid vehicles and fixed pole cameras to monitor high-use and residential parking areas. This initiative promotes fair vehicle turnover, enhancing parking availability, ensures compliance with the local and state laws and improves safety around schools and busy areas.

For more information on the SafePark initiative and its benefits, please refer to our SafePark Fact Sheet.