Arylene Westlake-Jennings: Shopping centre parking fines are a bigger slap on the face than the wrist

My local shopping centre parking lot in Warwick was dubbed Pothole Central by the husband after we almost lost a front panel to it.

The carpark often flooded but, myriad closures later, a new resurfaced space was recently revealed, only to be marred by spots limited to 15 and 30-minute stays.

Sure, there’s plenty of room in the multi-storey parking, but the only travelators in the building have also come under repair, making the upper-floor area nugatory for those carting groceries.

I could go to Karrinyup as long as it’s not a Saturday, where drivers are seemingly given carte blanche to drive on the wrong side of the lane or perch their 4WD on median islands in order to secure a rare spot near the restaurant precinct.

Of course, shopping centre parking is not exactly meant to be anyone’s idea of a good time.

But imagine being asked to pay for the privilege to shop in the Galleria Shopping Centre (of all places!).

Yes, all you Carousel shoppers, I hear you — I always thought you were getting ripped off.

But you’re not exactly shopping in the forgotten shell that the Morley institution has been relegated to.

That’s what one poor woman faced last week — a $65 slap on the wrist for overstaying beyond the three-hour limit there.

Regardless of the fact the fine was not enforceable, the cheek of Galleria to even try it on is a disgrace.

The fact someone wanted to spend more than three hours is that forsaken building should be heralded, not punished.

And it’s a fathomable amount of time to spend in a retail centre, especially if you’ve factored in a movie at the cinemas, dinner and perhaps a quick stop at Aldi.

But whether it’s at your rundown local shops or fancy ol’ Claremont Quarter, the concept of having to pay for parking to get your essentials in a cost-of-living crisis is plain detestable.