Overnight parking in a popular tourist spot is about to be banned in a bid to stamp out illegal camping.
Starting on August 28, Noosa Council will trial a no-parking zone from 10pm-4am along Claude Batten Drive at Noosa Woods, with an initial two-week transition period to allow the community time to adapt to the changes.
Council director of development and regulation Richard MacGillivray said patrols had increased all over the shire but Noosa Woods – particularly the car parks at Noosa Spit – were a major hotspot with lots of campervans full of travellers flocking to the area at night.
“With campers getting together, drinking and getting rowdy, there are safety issues for the public and our local laws officers, as well as the impact of the mess and food waste being left behind, which poses a threat to our native flora and fauna,” he said.
“The vans are monopolising parking spaces into the morning so others can’t park there, and our natural areas are even being used as toilets.”
Mayor Clare Stewart said the trial responded to a surge in complaints from the community about travellers in vans camping illegally overnight.
“Last year we received 434 complaints about illegal camping. This year we’ve already surpassed 400 complaints with five months still to go,” she said.
Mr MacGillivray said council would keep up illegal camping patrols and enforcement across the shire to ensure travellers don’t disperse to other public areas.
During the last two illegal camping patrols, 51 and 28 infringements were issued for illegal camping.
“If trialling the no-parking zone proves effective we can look to adopt similar arrangements in other areas,” he said.
Related story: ‘Growing impatience’: illegal camping crackdown
To minimise the impact on workers and Hastings Street visitors at night, the first two car parks at the Hastings Street end of Claude Batten Drive are excluded from the overnight no-parking zone.
“Local laws officers will increase nighttime patrols of these two car parks to ensure they’re not used by campers moved on from the Spit,” Mr MacGillivray said.
Signs will be in place along Claude Batten Drive to advise of the new arrangements.
Mr MacGillivray said the 10pm-4am no-parking arrangement was consistent with the approach used by councils in other areas across Australia dealing with illegal camping.
“While everyone loves a cheap holiday, the number of travellers in vans setting up camp in our car parks, streets and public areas has become too great an impact and council has to step in,” he said.
The trial of the no-parking zone follows recent joint operations between council and Queensland Police targeting large groups of illegal campers.
“Public car parks and streets aren’t camping areas, they’re not set up with appropriate cooking and shower facilities and the community is tired of them being used this way, especially when Noosa is well serviced for camping facilities well equipped to accommodate vans,” Mr MacGillivray said.
He said people in genuine need due to rental and housing issues who may be living in cars were not the target.
“In fact, our staff are trained to assist people in need with referrals to services that may be able to support them to find accommodation,” he said.
Council will review the success of the trial after two months.
For more information, visit council’s parking regulations page.
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