Residents in a narrow residential street have raised concerns about parking and access issues during kerb and drainage works in the area.
Locals in Dicky Beach’s Rooke Street said on-street parking had reduced the previously two-way road to a single lane in sections, creating safety concerns and access difficulties, particularly in a street where one side includes commercial premises.
Andrea Bigby, a resident of Rooke Street, said she has raised concerns with Sunshine Coast Council over the past two years and had proposed indented parking bays using existing nature strip space as a solution.
“Council in their wisdom are currently spending an inordinate amount of taxpayers’ money to upgrade the drains and curbing to replace like with like,” she said.
“They have regrettably missed an opportunity to create indented parking bays using the existing generous nature strip land, that I suggested two years ago to council was the solution to the existing access problem.”
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the works formed part of a broader program for Rooke Street and Henzell Street, with a combined project cost of approximately $1.25 million.
“The works currently underway are part of planned maintenance to renew ageing kerb and channel infrastructure, in preparation for road rehabilitation scheduled for later this year,” the spokesperson said.
“These works are focused on maintaining the existing road condition rather than changing the street layout.”
Ms Bigby said she has not started a petition but believes concerns are shared by other residents and a commercial business owner on the street.
“I am not alone in my concerns about this complete lack of foresight and prudent use of taxpayers’ funds for council to have addressed this issue in a proactive manner,” she said.
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Council said it has previously reviewed concerns about on-street parking in Rooke Street, including a request to introduce indented parking bays using the nature strip space.
“This assessment found the current 7.5-metre-wide road, with parking on both sides, still provides a minimum of three metres of clear access for vehicles, and does not present a safety risk,” a spokesperson said.
“On-street parking also helps calm traffic by slowing vehicle speeds.
“While indented parking bays were explored, they were not supported as they would reduce the overall number of available parking spaces.
“Given the street’s proximity to the beach and local businesses, maintaining parking availability was a key consideration.
“Based on safety assessments and the need to retain parking supply in a high-demand area, no changes to the existing parking layout were included in the project.”
