Council encouraging responsible driving and parking

Date: Thursday, 9th July 2009

Townsville City Council is encouraging motorists to drive and park responsibly during the Dunlop Townsville 400.

The council is urging drivers to observe road signs and utilise allocated parking facilities, in the interests of residents’ amenity and patrons’ safety.

Dunlop Townsville 400 Festival Committee chairman Cr Tony Parsons said illegal parking or inappropriate parking that impeded access to a residence or business place would not be tolerated.

"Council has worked with V8 Supercars in developing the Traffic Management Plan for the event and now our top priority in implementing this is residents’ amenity and patrons’ safety," he said.

"For this reason, we ask that drivers obey traffic signs, demonstrate commonsense and show respect for other people’s property.

"We’ll also be working with other agencies and have parking officers patrolling on motorcycles this weekend.

"Vehicles that are parked illegally or block access to a house or premises will receive a fine and they will be towed away.

"There is still plenty of parking available at various venues, including the council’s Dean Street Carpark. The Lions Club of Cleveland Bay is offering a two-day pass for $30 and this available at the Centro Shopping Centre in Aitkenvale from 9am Thursday and the council’s Super Welcome to Townsville celebrations at Riverway from 4pm Thursday.

"This parking will be monitored during the day and, for those who elect to leave their cars there, it will be secured overnight."

Cr Parsons said two main road closures had already been enacted:

• Boundary St between Charters Towers Rd; and
• Charters Towers Rd between Boundary St and Ingham Rd.

"Diversions are in place and delays can be expected," he said. "These closures will be in place until 6pm Monday and, in the meantime, we’re asking residents to avoid the Reid Park side of town if possible – seek alternative routes."

Helpful numbers

Illegal parking/blocked access: Townsville Police Station – 4759 9777
Pre-race inquiries: Townsville City Council – 4727 9000 or www.v8supercarevents.com.au
Townsville Traffic Management Centre: 13 19 40 or www.131940.qld.gov.au
Traffic/transport updates: Radio 4TO 102.3FM