One of hundreds of parking tickets received over this week’s Kanga Cup events. Photo: Troy Thompson.
Hundreds of attendees at Canberra’s biggest annual soccer event have blasted the ACT Government over a seemingly merciless parking ticket blitz.
Troy Thompson and his kids have taken part in the Kanga Cup for four years now, but 2025’s event – running between 14 and 18 July at more than 40 playing fields across the ACT – is the costliest.
The LJ Hooker real estate agent posted photos of his vehicle – as well as those of his wife and dad – to his Instagram account, each with yellow envelopes tucked under their windscreen wipers.
“Well done ACT Government, holding a national tournament Kanga Cup with thousands of families and no parking at suburban grounds,” he wrote.
Hosted by Capital Football every July, the Kanga Cup is a massive deal for Canberra’s young soccer players, aged nine and up. It’s also the largest tournament of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
It takes over playing fields in the suburbs of Calwell, Charnwood, Dickson, Harrison and Mawson before culminating in the all-ages grand finals at Southwell Park in Lyneham.
Mr Thompson’s family attended the event at the Harrison District Playing Fields off Katoomba Street on 17 July, where it didn’t take long for the small carpark to be overwhelmed by traffic.
“There’s maybe 50 parks there, and I reckon everyone else had to park on the verge or off the street – there were hundreds of kids there,” he later told Region.
“I just had the s***s … because there’s a lot of older people, like grandparents, and people from interstate – all obviously putting a whole lot of money through the town, with restaurants and whatnot – and they all got bloody booked. I mean, far out … it’s cheeky.”
One of Mr Thompson’s friends, who attended the event at Mawson, also copped a $300 fine for what he described as parking “on a roadside kerb with a quarter of my car in front of a ‘No Stopping’ sign”.
A number of the attendees, including his wife, plan to dispute the fines with Access Canberra.
“I was on the verge, because there was just nowhere else to go whatsoever. The whole school car parks are full.”
Kanga Cup is the largest tournament of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Photo: Kanga Cup.
In response to questions from Region, the ACT Government could not provide information on how many infringement notices were issued at Kanga Cup events during the week, due to the fact the data takes “up to three to four days” to be uploaded into Access Canberra’s systems. This allows for “the proper adjudication of each infringement”.
But the spokesperson said the government’s Parking Operations team sent an “educational letter” to the event organisers prior to the Cup “encouraging them to clearly communicate parking options and restrictions to attendees”.
“This included a request to share relevant information across their website, social media platforms, flyers, tickets, and other communication channels. Additionally, that they may consider displaying signs and banners at event sites to remind attendees/staff to park legally and safely.”
Kanga Cup responded by publishing a notice to their website under the “Venues” section, which warned attendees to “only park in a designated spot”.
“Parking Inspectors will check venues and any cars parked illegally will be fined and possibly towed,” it read.
“Please also be mindful of residents in the surrounding areas, and do not park where not authorised.
“The Kanga Cup Organising Committee is not liable for any cars parked illegally, or any damage caused.”
The government didn’t directly answer a question about whether parking inspectors target large events like the Kanga Cup, but said they do “patrol around ovals and local sporting events to enforce safe driving and parking behaviours”, and apply a “risk-based approach” to enforcement.
The ACT Government pours 30 tonnes of fertiliser across the playing fields before Kanga Cup comes to town every year. Photo: Capital Football.
“Parking compliance activity around events focuses on illegal parking that impacts community safety,” the spokesperson said.
“This includes vehicles blocking line of sight for pedestrians or other road users, blocking or restricting footpaths, and uncontrolled interaction between vehicles and pedestrians.”
The government said there were no plans to increase the number of parking spaces at the venues used by Kanga Cup in the future.
“As with any large scale event, the ACT Government works closely with event organisers to help manage expected demand and any pressures on parking.”
Ahead of the Kanga Cup, city services crews spend two months preparing the grounds with more than 30 tonnes of fertiliser. Aeration equipment is then also used to help the fields to soak up water (especially important after recent rain), and improve nutrients to the grass.
