Organisers seething over fines

[OZ Stoners]

MARDIGRASS organisers are encouraging anyone who received a parking fine at last weekend’s cannabis reform rally to contact them before paying the fine.

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http://media2.apnonline.com.au/img/media/images/2013/05/05/9-1831580-lis050513nimbin11_fct1024x630x83_t460.jpgThe 2013 Nimbin Mardi Grass parade. Patrick Gorbunovs

MARDIGRASS organisers are encouraging anyone who received a parking fine at last weekend's cannabis reform rally to contact them before paying the fine.

Nimbin Hemp Embassy president Michael Balderstone said he was angry about the approximately 100 parking fines issued, which he said was just council revenue-raising.

"We got no funding support from the council, which I can swallow, but to turn the event to their financial advantage is really rude we think. We would like people to contact us before paying the fines as they may well be invalid, we think.

"If there is a way the fines can be avoided we will do all we can to help people," Mr Balderstone said.

With most Nimbin businesses relying on tourism, Mr Balderstone said he feared people with parking fines would not return to the town.

"We recommend people contact the MardiGrass Organising Body on 6689 0326, or James Moylan on 0439 852 194."

A Lismore City Council spokesman said traffic management and parking restrictions for the Nimbin MardiGrass event this year were taken from the Traffic Management Plan prepared and submitted to council for approval by the MardiGrass organising body.

"Council's parking enforcement was in line with all sign-posted parking restrictions," the spokesman said.

The council has previously said it sent rangers to MardiGrass because of complaints from residents about parking and that some festival attendees had driven over barrier tape put up by residents to highlight no parking zones.