A local council is poised to start a timed parking trial at a popular car park, in an effort to stop people from hogging spaces.
Noosa Council will introduce four-hour time limits to the end car parks on Claude Batten Drive at Noosa Spit, which previously allowed unlimited parking between 4am and 10pm.
Council also reiterated that overnight parking is not permitted and parking officers will continue to patrol the area.
Council stated that the trial would be implemented in response to community concerns.
Photos of rows of campervans drew ire from locals last month. Several residents expressed concern that people were staying overnight or longer, while others voiced some support for the visitors.
Council’s acting manager local laws and environmental health, Clint Irwin, said the new regulations would be trialled until mid-2025, to help manage parking pressure.
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“This six-month trial of timed parking will apply to the end car parks fronting the river mouth at the end of Noosa Spit,” he said.
“The trial is about giving more residents and visitors a reasonable opportunity to find a car park in this area to enjoy the beaches and Hastings Street precinct.
“Applying a four-hour time limit on parking at Noosa Spit will give everyone a fair go and prevent the monopolising of car park spaces for long periods.”
Signage will be in place to indicate where the restrictions apply.
“This section of Noosa Spit and sections of the Noosa Woods area also remains a no-parking zone between 10pm and 4am to help curb illegal camping,” Mr Irwin said.
“The community has made council aware of damage to the environment associated with illegal camping and this is unacceptable to council, so we will continue to undertake frequent parking and camping patrols to ensure compliance with parking regulations and local laws.”
The Hastings Street Association, which is the collective voice for the precinct’s business operators, said the change to parking time limits there was a step in the right direction.
“We commend council for taking proactive steps to manage this popular space,” Hastings Street Association spokesperson Alesha Gooderham said.
“We believe this approach will help ensure fair access to this beautiful location by preventing a small number of users from occupying parking spaces for extended periods, allowing a greater number of people to enjoy it equitably.”
That sentiment was echoed by Noosa Heads resident and ratepayer of more than 50 years Ken Morrison.
“My wife and I are regular walkers and beachgoers to the Noosa Spit area and have seen a significant increase in traffic and long-term parking in the entrance beach parking area with campers and their vans which is grossly unfair on locals and tourists alike,” he said.
“We love Noosa and we love seeing visitors enjoying this beautiful place we call home.
“We think it’s only fair that the experience is shared, and this initiative should help ensure people are able to find a place to park, so we certainly welcome the four-hour time limits.”
Meanwhile, Lions Park will operate during the Christmas period, providing parking for 300 more vehicles.
