Latest news with #IanNelson
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aussie council responds after locals left stunned by $1,000 fines for parking on the grass
An Aussie council is standing firm on its decision to hand down "outrageous" $1,010 fines for two locals who parked on a nature strip, saying the tough penalties are in place to "discourage the behaviour". Earlier this month, two local men complained they had received an unfair penalty for parking on a median strip by the Clarence City Council, in Tasmania's southeast. One father said he'd simply stopped at the spot to pick up his kids from school, and having a trailer attached to his car, was met with few alternate options. He told local publication Pulse that he initially thought the incredible penalty "was a typo". Another said he'd parked there to walk his dogs, and was so surprised by the extreme fee he even called to council to check its legitimacy. "They said, no, it's not a joke. That's what it is," Andrew said. According to Council CEO Ian Nelson, his LGA "is not unique in setting fines", and the amounts serve a purpose. "This fine, for parking illegally on a nature strip or council land, is achieving an appropriate outcome," he told Yahoo News Australia. "The infringement was issued under council's Public Places By-law which was adopted in 2018. In this case, the offence relates to Public Places Bylaw 2018, section 30(1) and carries a penalty of five units. These rules were formally put in place by Council and we're required to apply them consistently — we can't simply change or ignore them." Across Tasmania, councils tend to issue parking fines that range between 0.2 and 0.6 penalty units, which equates to approximately $40 to $120 at the current state-set rate of $202 per unit. For example, Devonport City Council — in the state's north — applies a 0.55-unit fine, around $111, for most parking breaches, with discounts available for early payment. Launceston's fines for standard infringements typically start at $41 and increase in stages up to about $102.50 if unpaid after 28 days. Burnie and Glenorchy councils follow similar patterns, applying relatively low unit counts in line with state norms. By contrast, Clarence City Council's use of five penalty units — resulting in a $1,010 fine for parking on public land — stands out. While councils decide how many units to apply to offences under their own by-laws, the dollar value per unit is determined by the Tasmanian Government and indexed annually. Big push for 'polite parking' change in Aussie suburbs Sydney man's confusion over $724 parking fine: 'Ludicrous' Drivers fume over 'entitled' street parking act in busy Aussie suburb As Aussies grapple with the rising cost of living, parking fines have been a sore point across the nation, with residents also dobbing neighbours in. In May in Sydney, the Inner West Council said it had received an incredible 4,393 recent complaints regarding people parking across nature strips and driveways. In response, it said it will now order tow trucks to remove vehicles obstructing driveways, doubling fines for offending drivers from $320 to $660. Last year, a woman who parked on the grass outside her home "because there weren't any spots left on the road" was appalled to discover she'd been fined twice, totalling $640. The NSW motorist said she "wasn't aware" it was an offence to park on the grass. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Structured environment key to continued growth
The concept of a national fintech hub is not new. Envisaged as a one-stop shop to provide fintech firms, from start-ups to established businesses, with access to sectoral experience and expertise and investment as well as opportunities to network, collaborate and innovate, proposals for a hub have been doing the rounds since at least 2023. In March 2024, the Government gave its formal backing to industry proposals for a hub in its Update to Ireland for Finance: Action Plan 2024 strategy document. 'Assessing the proposal for the establishment of a national fintech hub' was among six deliverables contained in the fintech and digital finance section. 'It is envisaged that the hub could be a natural landing space for multinational firms in the early stage of their entry to the Irish market, while also going a long way to addressing some of the challenges faced by indigenous firms on their digital transformation journey,' the document stated. Roll on seven months to October, 2024 and Ibec industry body Financial Services Ireland (FSI) put forward its vision for the hub which it said would help Irish fintech firms compete in the sector on a global scale and would cost €13.5 million over five years to operate. The FSI proposal was for a hub occupying between 10,000sq m and 50,000sq m of space in Dublin city centre. The capital was chosen 'due to its proximity to the headquarters of major financial services and technology firms and its easy connectivity for international visitors.'. Two months later, the new programme for government included a commitment to collaborate with industry on the establishment of a national fintech hub. The need for such a hub is undeniable, according to Ian Nelson, partner and head of financial services and regulatory with KPMG in Ireland. 'Ireland's financial services sector is a fundamental part of the national economy, employing thousands of people and contributes significant value to society,' he points out. Ian Nelson, partner and head of financial services and regulatory with KPMG in Ireland. 'With the global fintech industry continuing to expand rapidly, Ireland must position itself as a leading innovator to remain competitive. A dedicated fintech hub would provide a structured environment for start-ups, scale-ups, regulators and established financial institutions to collaborate, innovate, and drive technological transformation. It would also help in providing a mechanism for firms to access funding, talent and market intelligence.' The fintech hub could potentially serve as a physical and virtual centre for innovation, collaboration, and commercialisation, says Nelsonhe continues. 'Potential roles and associated activities could include co-working space for fintech start-ups and other businesses; innovation labs for testing, piloting and launching new technologies and sandboxes; regular networking events, workshops, and development sessions to foster idea exchange; potential access to mentoring, venture capital, and broader international market linkages; collaboration opportunities with regulators, academia, and corporates; and training and upskilling programmes tailored to fintech needs.' He envisages multiple benefits flowing from the hub, including stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship in financial services and enhancing Ireland's international competitiveness as a fintech destination. It would also help to 'attract and retain high-skill talent, provide a centralised support system for emerging fintechs, enable further regulatory clarity and faster go-to-market strategies through collaboration with regulators, and encourage foreign direct investment and boost Ireland's start-up ecosystem,' he adds. Nelson favours Dublin as a location – with a regional dimension – and believes cost should not be an issue. 'While the exact location would need to be determined through a feasibility studies and assessments, Dublin would be a potential choice due to its existing fintech cluster and infrastructure,' he says. 'However, regional presence and outreach will be essential to ensure national impact. The hub should be driven by government, trade agencies and industry on a combined basis. The cost is hard to estimate but international benchmarks would imply that sensible investment will pay for itself many times over.' With broad agreement from industry and Government on the need for a hub, it seems the only question now is when it will happen. Sadly, there is little clarity at present. In a written answer to a DáilDail question on May 29th last, Finance Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe noted the commitment in the programme for government and said: 'Department of Finance officials are carrying out research and continue to engage with industry in exploring the possibilities for a National Fintech Hub.' No hard and fast commitments there, then. Nelson takes an optimistic view: 'Given that the expected feasibility study would be completed this year, a realistic timeline for launching a national fintech hub would be 18-24 months from now,' he says. 'An initial pilot or virtual hub model could be up and running sooner – potentially within 12 months – providing early value while the full physical infrastructure is being developed.'
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Stoke D'Abernon residents raise £7,000 in fight against homes
Campaigners say they have raised more than £7,000 in their fight to oppose plans for 250 new homes on the edge of a Surrey homes are proposed for Blundel Lane, south of the Polyapes Scout Campsite in Stoke D' County Councillor David Lewis described Stoke D'Abernon as a historic village which went back to the Domesday Book, and said if the application went ahead it would "completely change the character" of the developer, Mac Mic Strategic Land Limited, has been contacted for comment. Sue Prentice, who lives near the site, said it was "overwhelming" to have raised the money in a little over two weeks since starting the Nelson, chairman of the Stoke D'Abernon Residents' Association, said the total was made up of lots of small donations and also a recent £1,000 anonymous said money had been spent on banners and leaflets, and more would be spent on planning and transport consultants."It would be such a shame for this to go ahead, it would destroy lovely wildlife habitat, peaceful semi rural location and it would upset the balance of the village," he added. Lewis raised concerns about the traffic on Blundel Lane, including a narrow railway bridge in one direction and the junction with Stoke Road in another direction."We have concerns that the proposals which are part of the application simply would not address the problems that would be created by the additional traffic coming from the site," he added.A spokesperson for Mac Mic previously said the development aimed to create a "well-planned, connected and integrated sustainable extension to Stoke D'Abernon".The developer plans to deliver 125 affordable homes at the said residents in affordable homes may not always be able to afford to run a car, and were therefore reliant on public transport, cycling and walking so housing had to be in a sustainable location."Houses should be [the] right number, in [the] right place and supported with [the] right level of infrastructure," he added.
