Extra temporary parking to help boost holiday trade

Council will offer paid parking at Noosa Heads Lions Park from September 19 to October 5 for the September school holidays. 

The use of Noosa Heads Lions Park to provide parking will help cater for an influx of road-tripping Queenslanders expected to arrive in the shire during the September school holidays.

It’s in addition to the upcoming Christmas and Easter school holidays.

Mayor Clare Stewart said providing the extra parking spaces in September would help cater for an influx of road-tripping Queenslanders expected to arrive in the shire.

“Given the border closures, our local businesses are relying on Queensland visitors. With many of them hopping in their cars to drive here we need to do all we can to accommodate them so they can get out and about and support local businesses,” she said.

The Mayor said opening up additional carparking in Noosa Heads during the September holidays could help deliver the extra patronage some businesses needed to stay afloat.

“Providing extra parking so that more people can come here and get out and about in Noosa during the holidays can only help our economy.

“The extra parking will also assist locals who are holidaying at home and want to venture into Noosa Heads during the school break,” Cr Stewart said.

Council plans to ask the State Government’s permission to use the park for paid parking during all holidays and long weekends while the COVID-19 Health Declaration is in place.

“This is something simple we can do to support local traders during this challenging time.”

The Mayor said a global decline in public transport use, fuelled by COVID-19 anxiety, could extend to Noosa’s free holiday buses, so Council had to be ready to accommodate extra vehicles at Christmas and Easter.

“If it was business as usual we’d continue with our strategy to promote alternative forms of moving people into the Hastings Street precinct – such as the free buses – during peak times, as well as phase out the use of the Lions Park for parking at Christmas,” the Mayor said. 

“But while people are less willing to use public transport amid COVID-19 concerns, then we need to be adaptable and accommodate the inevitable influx of vehicles in the short-term.”

Council will close the Lions Park to vehicles as required during wet weather, in order to minimise damage to the grass.

Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club will manage the September paid parking. 50% of the proceeds will go to the Lions Club, with the remaining funds to be used by Council to maintain and improve the park and fund temporary fencing and signage.