Wanneroo schools to get tougher parking enforcement after two-week caution period endorsed

Parents and drivers near Wanneroo schools will have two weeks, rather than the first school term, to adjust to parking rules before infringement enforcement begins under a strengthened education-first compliance approach.

The Revenue Review Committee endorsed Option 2 for Community Safety matters, retaining officer discretion and education while adding written cautions, stronger documentation and targeted enforcement operations for selected recurring offences.

The revised school parking approach shortens the written-caution period from about nine weeks to the first two weeks of term one. The City said the shorter period would preserve an initial opportunity for education while allowing earlier enforcement when non-compliance continues.

The approach keeps several responses available to authorised officers, including verbal cautions, written cautions, infringements and prosecution. Officers are to consider the seriousness of a matter, intent, prior history, risks to safety or amenity, and willingness to comply.

The committee’s endorsed approach distinguishes suitable low-risk or first-contact matters from repeated, deliberate or serious non-compliance. Targeted short-term, non-discretionary enforcement operations will address selected recurring community concerns.

The change follows concerns that many parents understand school parking requirements and comply while an officer is present, but resume non-compliant behaviour after the officer leaves. The City’s current practice is to issue written cautions through the first school term before infringement enforcement begins in term two.

Community Safety demand has grown alongside population growth, higher-density living, rising customer requests and more complex reported matters. Customer requests increased from 10,633 in 2021-22 to 15,597 in 2024-25, while infringement volumes rose from 2,195 to 3,489. Community Safety infringement revenue totalled $544,000 in 2025-26.

The committee did not specify an operational implementation date for the revised school parking approach.

Separately, a motion opposing paid parking across the City and supporting broader timed parking in areas with high occupancy was carried 5 - 1. That motion provides context for the committee’s wider revenue discussions but does not change the compliance approach.