Thousands of dollars in parking fines issued to Woden workers on Tuesday will be withdrawn by the ACT government after a popular car park was sold.
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Long-term permit holders were among those who received fines at the 226-space car park on Melrose Drive on Tuesday, after new parking arrangements came into effect following the sale of the site to a developer.
ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said on Wednesday the $83 fines would be withdrawn as the changes had not been adequately communicated to workers, including employees of the Department of Health and Ageing and other organisations.
The car park is also used by patrons of the nearby Tradies club and workers in the adjacent Aviation House.
While signs warning that long-term permits would no longer be accepted in the car park were placed near parking machines, Fairfax Media observed dozens of cars bearing fine notices.
A statement by the ACT government's Justice and Community Services directorate said the new parking arrangements came into effect on June 11 after government parking metres were removed on June 7.
''Given the parking arrangements are new, warnings should have been issued in the first instance to vehicles who displayed existing ACT government-paid parking permits in that car park,'' the statement said.
''Those vehicles issued with an infringement notice for failing to display a proper permit will have the notice withdrawn.
"Parking Operations will continue to work with the new car park owners to ensure that motorists using this car park facility are apprised of the changes and that motorists have an opportunity to make other arrangements.''
Other ACT government car parking areas in Phillip will not be affected and motorists with prepaid parking permits were advised to use those other areas.
Department of Health deputy secretary Andrew Stuart told staff on Wednesday that no further action was required of vehicle owners and retraction notices would be issued.
''I am advised that ACT Parking Operations will also continue to work with the new owners of the car park to ensure that people using it are given appropriate notice of further changes,'' Mr Stuart said in an email to staff.
The site was sold to a private developer in April and construction of a 28-storey development upon it is expected to begin within a year.
The complaints come as the federal government prepares for the introduction of paid parking for about 9000 spaces around the parliamentary triangle and also follow recent vandalism against cars parked in residential streets in the area.