The community group responsible for operating a busy holiday car park in the heart of Noosa is hoping to reverse a decision to restrict use of the area in peak times.
A petition with more than 2000 signatures was presented to Noosa Council after it scaled back the use of Noosa Lions Park for the temporary paid car park at a meeting in March.
Tewantin Noosa Lions Club volunteers have run the overflow car park since 2004 and receive 50 per cent of the parking fees, which is put back into local community endeavours and charities.
Over a 10-day period from April 6 to 16, the club secured 2315 signatures and presented the 111-page petition to councillors at the April 20 ordinary meeting.
Historically open only during the Easter and Christmas holiday periods, parking was extended to cover all Queensland school and public holidays in 2020.
The March decision advised that car park operations at the site would be reduced to only run across the 2023 Easter and Christmas periods and Easter 2024.
At the time Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie said the park’s continued use for parking beyond then would be put to the community for feedback.
Noosa Council told Sunshine Coast News it had a set procedure when accepting petitions and it was currently going through the review process.
CEO Larry Sengstock said a response would be provided to Tewantin Noosa Lions Club in due course.
“Council is developing a Destination Management Plan and engagement with the community on this project is likely to occur later this year,” he said.
Tewantin Noosa Lions Club president Ian Glew said in the 12 months to the 2022-23 Christmas and new year holiday, more than 15,500 vehicles used the car park.
Mr Glew said in the 31 days over the recent Christmas period, 7800 cars parked at the site.
He expressed the need for the temporary service to help tackle congestion in the busy tourism area that funnels visitors into Hastings Street.
“The decision (in March) was made with no warning or consultation and will create increased congestion in the area,” he told Sunshine Coast News.
“The statistics speak for themselves.
“What is not realised is that car parking in its former duration was only in operation for 10 weeks of the year.
“We do not take over the entire park. Swings, barbecues and a large area at the back of the park are left and used by the public for recreational activities.”
It is estimated about 1600 volunteer hours go into running the car park over the Easter and Christmas periods.
Running the car park is also one of the club’s major fundraising initiatives, generating about $60,000 per year.
In the past, monetary profits have supported Noosa Care, wheelchair mats for Noosa Main Beach, the Lions Childhood Cancer Fund, the Classy Ladies Christmas appeal, Katie Rose Cottage Hospice, the SES and the Salvation Army homeless appeal.
“Stopping parking in the June and September school holidays and public holidays has already reduced our income stream,” Mr Glew said.
“We have been working with council to formulate plans to fill the gap made by the reduction of some of the school holidays and public holidays we now do not open.
“These initiatives are based around us having some car parking.
“If car parking is removed all together, we will lose our major stream of income and support to the community.”
Mr Glew said the Noosa Council and club had always had a good relationship and described this as a “disagreement of opinion and a healthy debate”.
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