Concerned residents and business owners are calling for action to tackle parking issues in a small but busy Noosa street.
Frustration is mounting over the long-term parking of boat and car trailers during peak holiday periods, often sitting idle for days or weeks at a time.
It is causing a lack of street parking at Quamby Place, Noosa Heads, making it difficult for businesses, clients, visitors, staff and locals that frequent the area.
A petition has been submitted to Noosa Council to request immediate action.
Containing 181 signatories, it was received at the May 18 ordinary meeting and will be referred to council’s chief executive officer to determine appropriate action.
As practice manager of Ibuki Regenerative Medicine on Quamby Place, Anne Clark orchestrated the petition.
She told Sunshine Coast News that while the trailers were considered registered vehicles and within their rights to park on the street, they were taking up the limited spaces available.
She outlined in the petition that lack of parking for patrons to Quamby Place had “seen many people parking illegally, perilously blocking the centre turn area of the road, double parking and parking other vehicles in”.
Quamby Place is lined with several holiday resorts and is also home to iconic riverfront restaurant Rickys and Tom Offermann Real Estate.
There are also other retail, hospitality and commercial services, a park and public tennis court within the precinct.
Ms Clark said this was not the first time the issue had been put forward to Noosa Council, with letters having been previously written in regard to parking concerns.
“This time we decided that we would get signatures and complaints from all the people that have been trying to get an appointment (with us) or coming in to see the doctors,” she said.
“We are aware of the fact we are in a resort facility, but for weeks at a time over the holiday period, trailers are parked up and not being used.
“I can get here at 7.45 in the morning and there might be one spot left. We drive around and park up on Noosa Parade or wherever else we can find a park.
“If it’s hard enough for us to get in, then our patients are struggling just as much and becoming late for appointments.”
Culgoa Point Beach Resort manger Zoe Jennings told SCN parking in the street was “frustrating” for resort staff and guests.
“In the peak period it is very frustrating,” Ms Jennings said.
“A lot of the time I might be a little bit late to work because I can’t find a to park and have to park elsewhere.”
She agreed trailers were the biggest issue and were often parked dangerously in peak times.
“We encourage our guests not to park their trailer on the street as parking is limited and we explain the impact it does have,” she said.
“Some people will find parking elsewhere – we do our best to help.”
Noosa Council’s parking regulations state that while parking a registered boat trailer on local streets is lawful, long-term parking on busy arterial roads is discouraged.
As part of the petition, three possible solutions have been put forward to council for consideration.
This includes using nearby Nancy Cato Park (on the corner of Noosa Parade and Dolphin Crescent) for parking of trailers, similar to how it was used during recent rectification works of Noosa Parade.
Another idea submitted was to charge boat owners a small fee to store trailers in a secure industrial facility. Noosa Council could then use the profits to maintain boat ramps.
Or Quamby Place could be changed to introduce timed parking, discouraging long-term use.
Ms Clark said at this stage it was believed timed parking would be the the most viable outcome to encourage a regular turnover of vehicles.
“That might stop all of the trailers being there because if they’re just parked there day in day out, they’re going to receive a fine,” she said.
“At best if we could have that, that would help us out.”
However, Ms Jennings said timed parking could have an impact on visitors, guests and staff who may need to be parked short term but longer than the indicated time.
Ms Clark said the issue was not isolated to Quamby Place and that empty trailers were a common sight along Noosa Parade.
There is also no boat ramp access at Quamby Place, meaning boats are being launched elsewhere along Noosa River before being parked in the street.
The Noosa Sea Scouts offers boat trailer parking at its campground at 11 Eumundi Road, Noosaville, for boat owners.
SCN reached out to Noosa Council for comment, however was told that little could be said on the matter at this time.
“Council has received the petition and the matter has been referred to determine appropriate action,” a statement said.
Noosa Council offers several car parks specifically catering to cars with boat trailers attached. These parks are located at the boat ramps along Gympie Terrace, Noosaville and at the Tewantin marina.
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