The debate over paid parking has overshadowed another significant change being introduced in Mooloolaba that businesses fear will turn the tourism precinct into a “drop-and-go” zone.
Time limits for free regulated parking on many streets are being reduced to one or two hours across the tourism precinct.
The change has raised concern visitors would be forced to cut short their stay in Mooloolaba, or waste time shifting their cars each hour.
From January 18, parking on The Esplanade, Brisbane Road and Smith Street with be cut from two hours to just one hour.
Parking which is currently three hours will be reduced to two hours at the Beach Terrace carpark.
The changes were passed at the same meeting where Sunshine Coast Council voted to introduce paid parking in the new multi-storey carpark being built on Brisbane Road.
The seven-storey ParkNGo facility, one block back from the beach, will cost $2.50 per hour with a maximum daily charge of $12.50, Monday to Sunday, from January 18.
All on-street parking will remain free in existing parking areas.
A council spokesperson said cutting the time limits was designed to increase parking turnover and the availability of parking spaces in these areas.
The following areas will see changes in parking time limits:
• Beach Terrace car park will change from 3P to 2P
• Club Lane car park will change from unrestricted parking to 2P
• The Esplanade, Brisbane Road and Smith Street will change from 2P to 1P.
Three and four hour parking will remain at The Wharf, Mooloolaba Spit and other recreational areas.
No further changes to the existing parking time limits are proposed.
Across the Mooloolaba tourism precinct, there will be 897 timed public parking spaces.
Visitors can also make use of 1243 unrestricted public parking spaces south of Walan Street and Hancock Street and on parts of Mooloolaba Spit.
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However, Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce president Graeme Juniper said the council was turning the holiday destination into a “drop-and-go” zone because one hour was not enough time.
“An hour’s too short. Mooloolaba’s a place where people come to stay for a few hours – not an hour,” he said.
“A lot of people come for breakfast or lunch and they’ll go to the beach or do a bit of shopping – it’s part of the lifestyle here.
“A massive amount of locals use the beach. We absolutely need to ensure we get the parking right.”
Mr Juniper said the shorter parking hours would be a disincentive for people visiting Mooloolaba.
Division 4 councillor Joe Natoli said the time reductions had been overshadowed by paid parking and would have a negative impact.
“Everything is designed to force people to pay for a carpark in the multi-storey building,” said Cr Natoli.
Cr Natoli said people would spend more money in local businesses if they could park for two hours or more rather than be forced to rush away or move their car.
“Two hours is enough time to sit and have lunch and do something else,” he said.
“One hour will do very little for you. It’s not going to allow you to do much at all.
“I would love to see a two-hour minimum rather than force with a big stick so it makes it attractive to pay money for parking in the multi-story carpark.”
To view the Sunshine Coast parking area maps visit council’s website www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/parking. A revised parking map will be published when these changes occur.
