Concerns raised by business owners and residents about the loss of car parking spaces to boat trailers and calls from boating and fishing advocacy groups to upgrade boat ramp facilities led Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart to put forward a Mayoral Minute at council’s meeting last Thursday.
“There is a large deal of public disapproval of all the boat trailers taking up so many car spaces,“ a resident told Noosa Today last week.
A business owner said businesses were suffering at what was normally their busiest time of year because many of their surrounding car spaces were full of trailers.
At Quamby Place last week, for example, more car parking spaces were taken over by unattached trailers than cars.
“I think trailers should be allowed to park on the street provided they are connected to a vehicle, as there are sometimes insufficient boat trailer parks around the boat ramps,“ one business owner said.
“The problem would easily be solved by making unattached trailer parking illegal.“
A business owner said some holidaymakers were leaving trailers during their entire holiday stay and, incredibly, there were some that left their boat and trailer on the street in Noosa permanently until their holiday the following year.
“They are getting free boat storage for a year at the inconvenience of everyone in Noosa,“ he said.
“It’s untenable and requires immediate action. Paid parking is a reality for most people in the world, and boat owners would quickly get used to paying a fee to store their trailer during their holidays, but while they can park them outside their holiday unit for local businesses and homes for free, they will“.
Last December former Queensland Tourism Minister and Noosa MP Bruce Davidson told Noosa Today the Noosaville boat ramp at peak times was at capacity with a shortfall of more than 30 car and trailer parking spaces and Tewantin boat ramp was at capacity most weekends.
“We have a desperate need for additional boat launching and car and trailer parking,“ he said.
“This is becoming an issue for business owners and residents in the Noosaville area with cars and trailers taking up car parks in nearby streets.“
Figures from Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) 2017 Queensland boating facilities demand forecasting study showed there were 4029 registered boats in Noosa, 93 per cent were trailer boats indicating a 50 per cent shortfall in boat ramp facilities.
A 2022 MSQ boating facilities demand forecasting study is due for release in March.
Cr Stewart said over the past three or four months council had received a number of calls from boating and fishing advocacy groups to upgrade boat ramp infrastructure.
While it was a state government responsibility to deliver and maintain boat ramp infrastructure, council has a role to play in assessing potentially suitable upgrade sites.
During council discussions Cr Frank Wilkie said council needed to have regard for community concerns on the loss of public space that might result from increased boating infrastructure and increased river traffic.
“It’s not how do we meet demand, but how do we make the experience safer and more pleasant,“ Cr Brian Stockwell said.
There’s been an increase in boating and cars. Council has been actively looking to reduce traffic congestion, it’s not just about meeting demand of increased boat numbers, Cr Stockwell said.
We should make sure facilities are given to locals and visitor demand is more regulated, he said.
Councillors voted to wait for the results of the latest MSQ study, requesting staff prepare a report for its May meetings in relation to the findings of the study as well as community concerns about loss of public space and increased traffic on the Noosa River.
Noosa Boating Fishing Alliance’s Andrew McCarthy said the group welcomed council’s report and supported community consultation but held concerns feedback would exclude community concerns on reduced river access and safety created by the lack of investment.
“Community consultation should be balanced and include the whole community,” he said.
Mr McCarthy said the group supported Cr Stockwell’s suggestions that opportunities to provide additional “resident only boat launching facilities” be looked at and agreed with him that the best locations on the river would be west of Noosaville.
“The Noosa Community has a thriving boating sector, from kids to seniors who love our river and deserve modern, safe access, not to mention the local businesses that need our boating sector to survive and thrive,” Mr McCarthy said.
“This report should also assess the economic value of boating on the Noosa River.”
