Orange’s Harris Farm store used designated disabled parking areas for storage as it opened for trade.

Around 8.30am, an Orange resident walked out of the shop to see packaging and pallets stacked on top of two disabled car parks.

Rod Miller, a carer for a disabled person, was outraged at the inappropriate use of the car parks.

“It should not have be done, full stop,” Mr Miller said.

“It’s 24/7 disabled access … if there wasn’t enough room to put pallets outside in a car park this big, they should have go around the corner to Hansen’s to get their eyes checked.”

Mr Miller regularly uses the disabled car parks when travelling or shopping with a disabled parking permit holder.

“It’s the responsibility of managers to make sure people operating the forklifts can read the signs,” he said.

Truck loading and unloading to supply both Harris Farm has long been a running sore point for Orange residents.

Harris Farm apologised for the use of the disabled car park on Wednesday, its first day of trade since the completion of a renovation and upgrade.

The store’s second-in-charge, Mitch Bennett, said the shop had closed early on Monday night to remove old fixtures and replace them.

“We started at 6pm on Monday, we ripped the shop apart and new fixtures went in at 3am (Tuesday),” he said.

After the new fixtures were installed employees worked to restock the shelves ahead of a re-opening on Wednesday. The old fixtures had been kept on site leading to the disruption as the store re-opened. What was left was due to be collected and shipped out on Wednesday night.

Mr Bennett said Harris Farm had tried to avoid causing inconvenience during the renovation.

“Most of the old fixtures should be gone today (Wednesday), it’s difficult to park a truck in to collect it,” Mr Bennett said.

“It was a little bit of disruption and we think it’s worth it, we have more stock in the shop and much better appearance.”

Orange City Council spokesman Nick Redmond said Harris Farm had not received permission to load or unload from disabled car parking spaces.

“Disabled car parking spaces are made available for a specific reason,” Mr Redmond said.

“We have been in touch with Harris Farm and reminded them of their need to act in accordance with the parking regulations and that includes disabled spaces.

“They must operate within the requirements of the consent for the site.

“All loading and unloading of goods is to be carried out in accordance with the loading dock management plan and the licence agreement entered into with council.”