A photograph, a rule, and forty years of parking suddenly declared wrong

There is a particular frustration that lives on a narrow street beside a school at 3 p.m., when the bell rings and a hundred cars converge on a space designed for a fraction of that number. Parents double-park. They pull onto nature strips. They angle their vehicles perpendicular to the curb, a habit formed over decades because there simply is not enough room to do otherwise. Then one day a photograph appears, a rule is cited, and a community discovers that what felt normal for forty years may soon come with a fine attached. Sometimes the quiet arrangements we make to cope with a system that was never quite adequate are the very things that become, officially, a problem.

The photograph was posted on Facebook by Bomaderry Public School, on the New South Wales South Coast, along with a reminder from Shoalhaven Council about parking rules on Karowa Street . One image showed cars parked perpendicular to the curb, the way locals say they have parked for decades. The other showed cars parked parallel, the way the rules require. The school cited two provisions of the NSW Road Rules: Rule 197(1), which prohibits stopping on a footpath or nature strip, and Rule 208, which requires vehicles on a two-way road to park parallel and as close as practicable to the left edge .

The message was polite but clear. Rangers would be monitoring the location. First, warnings would be issued to educate drivers. After that, penalty notices could follow . The council said it had received complaints about vehicles obstructing pedestrian access—a concern that, on a street beside a school, carries real weight. The school noted that clear footpaths matter “particularly given the proximity to the school and the need to maintain safe and accessible pedestrian movement for children, families, and other road users” .

The reaction from residents was swift and sharp. One local argued that parallel parking would actually be more dangerous than the current arrangement, creating congestion and increasing the risk of accidents as cars maneuver out of tight spaces . Another described the proposed change as “pathetic,” warning that it would create greater congestion and a more dangerous environment for children and families. “It seems completely unreasonable to change a parking arrangement that has been occurring for 25+ years, without first providing sufficient alternative parking, and then threaten families with financial penalties when there simply aren’t enough suitable places for everyone to park,” the resident wrote .

Others pointed to a broader inconsistency. “If the state government were required to provide adequate parking, this would not be an issue,” one commenter wrote. “There is one rule for a business and one for the state government, with the state not having to comply” . Another noted that after forty years, the parking had only just become a problem—suggesting that the issue may be less about safety than about enforcement priorities or revenue.

Shoalhaven Councillor Selena Clancy said she had been contacted by concerned parents and would seek clarification from the council . Meanwhile, one commenter raised a different kind of question: whether the image showing “compliant” parking had itself been generated by artificial intelligence, pointing to details like a higher fence and a repaired road surface that did not match the actual street . The school and council did not immediately respond to requests for comment .

A photograph of parking near Bomaderry Public School has sparked anger among residents who say they have parked perpendicular to the curb for decades. Shoalhaven Council says the practice obstructs pedestrian access and will begin issuing warnings, with fines to follow. A local councillor is seeking clarification.

AI Image Disclaimer: The images in this article are AI-generated and are for illustrative purposes only. They do not depict the actual street or parking situation.

Sources: The Mercury, news.com.au, Shoalhaven Council, Bomaderry Public School