By Kevin Cheng, Parramatta Advertiser, 1 June 2011 

Parramatta City Council’s Adjudication Panel has helped hundreds of motorists to contest their parking fines since its inception in November 2010. Out of the 276 motorists that met with the panel, 143 were issued with a caution but did not have to pay their fines.

Lord Mayor of Parramatta John Chedid said the council was leading the state with the initiative.

"It’s something that is close to my heart ever since I was elected into council," he said.

The panel, the only one of its kind in NSW, is part of the council’s Parking Enforcement Policy and meets weekly to hear residents’ disputes.

"The system that is in place now is fair," Cr Chedid said.

Two residents and a senior council staff member form the panel and consider external factors that may not have been picked up by community safety officers.

Cr Chedid said the success of the panel showed Parramatta City Council did not rely on funds raised from parking fines.

"We are not a council that is about revenue raising," he said.

Other councils in Sydney including Ashfield were looking to follow Parramatta’s lead and establish a similar policy.

"It’s one of the best policies to be started by this council," Cr Chedid said.

Community safety officer Joy Smith also lauded the initiative and said the instances of abuse directed at parking rangers by angry motorists had decreased.

"It has made it much easier for us," she said. "It gives people the option to dispute the parking infringement and shows how unbiased ourjob is." The Adjudication Panel was established in November 2010 The panel has heard 276 motorists cases to date and 143 did not have to pay their fines.

Click here for the original article in the Parramatta Advertiser.