Hi Struggler and Scotlandx – thanks for commenting 
I just want to clarify that thespecial by-law was struck some 6 months after the parking encroachment by me started. The by-laws were not in place when I bought into the complex.
As part of seeking written permission, i also offered to pay a market value for the parking encroachment. and i’ve also offered to have the rental backdated to the date of first encroachment. but i take your point concerning levies and so far i’ve not factored this into the market value of the rental.
two of my three vehicles are large cars. i offered at mediation to downsize these two (ie get smaller cars) so that they would all fit within the lot. this was flatout refused at mediation by the lawyer sent by the body corporate. i even asked whether i could park 2 cars and one motorcycle. absolutely NOT was the response hahaha
lastly, the standard by-law 2 says cars must not be parked on common property without ‘written permission’ – so if written permission is granted, the by-law itself states there is no contravention.