By Alesha Capone
The owner of Bruno’s Deli and Cafe in Werribee is unhappy with Wyndham council about a parking fine.
Mario Muraca, who is legally blind and uses a walking stick, said he was “very disappointed” with the council after it issued his daughter with a fine for being double-parked as she stopped her vehicle in front of the deli on March 13.
Mr Muraca said his daughter only stopped to let him get out of her car because they had been unable to find a parking spot close to the deli.
“My daughter drove up to the roundabout and came back and stopped out the front of the shop, on the road,” Mr Muraca said. “I was in and out of the car in about 30 seconds, with my walking stick in one hand and some custards in the other.”
A few weeks later, Mr Muraca’s daughter received a $97 infringement notice from the council.
Mr Muraca and his daughter requested that council review the fine, but received a letter last month saying the review had been unsuccessful.
“I was willing to accept a warning, and don’t do it again, but I said to the lady (at council), ‘I’ll pay it, but I’m very disappointed’,” Mr Muraca said. “It’s alright for the council bigwigs to go to dinner at our (ratepayers’) expense, but they show no compassion for someone with a disability.”
Wyndham corporate affairs manager Emily Keogh said that after a review of the infringement, a decision had been made to uphold the fine issued to Mr Muraca’s
daughter.
“In this particular incident, photographs confirm that the car was illegally double-parked behind angle parks, blocking the lane for oncoming traffic, posing a safety risk,”
Ms Keogh said.
“Bruno’s Deli staff have access and staff parking at the rear of the store via Synnot Street.”
