Overnight ‘no-parking’ trial to target illegal camping at Noosa Woods

Noosa Woods is set to become an overnight no-parking zone in a trial targeting illegal camping. 

Council is targeting illegal camping in response to community frustration with the growing problem and its impact on carparks, streets and natural areas.

Council will trial a 10pm-to-4am no-parking zone along Claude Batten Drive starting August 28, with an initial two-week transition period to allow the community time to adapt to the changes.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said the trial responded to a surge in complaints from the community about travellers in vans camping illegally overnight.

“Last year we received 434 complaints about illegal camping. This year we’ve already surpassed 400 complaints with five months still to go,” she said.

Director of Development and Regulation, Richard MacGillivray, said Council had increased patrols all over the shire but Noosa Woods – particularly the carparks at Noosa Spit - are a major hotspot with lots of campervans full of travellers flocking to the area at night.

“With campers getting together, drinking and getting rowdy there are safety issues for the public and our Local Laws Officers, as well as the impact of the mess and food waste being left behind, which poses a threat to our native flora and fauna,” he said.

“The vans are monopolising parking spaces into the morning so others can’t park there, and our natural areas are even being used as toilets.”

Mr MacGillivray said Council will keep up illegal camping patrols and enforcement across the shire to ensure travellers don’t disperse to other public areas.

During the last two illegal camping patrols, 51 and 28 infringements were issued for illegal camping.

“If trialling the no-parking zone proves effective we can look to adopt similar arrangements in other areas.”

The 10pm-4am no-parking zone takes effect from August 28 with an initial two-week transition period where patrols will focus on education to allow the community time to adapt to the changes.

To minimise the impact on workers and Hastings Street visitors at night, the first two carparks at the Hastings Street end of Claude Batten Drive are excluded from the overnight no-parking zone.

“Local Laws officers will increase nighttime patrols of these two carparks to ensure they’re not used by campers moved on from the Spit,” Mr MacGillivray said.

Signs will be in place along Claude Batten Drive to advise of the new arrangements.

Mr MacGillivray said the 10pm-4am no-parking arrangement is consistent with the approach used by councils in other areas across Australia dealing with illegal camping.

“While everyone loves a cheap holiday, the number of travellers in vans setting up camp in our carparks, streets and public areas has become too great an impact and Council has to step in.”

Trial of the no-parking zone follows recent joint operations between Council and Queensland Police targeting large groups of illegal campers.

“Public carparks and streets aren’t camping areas, they’re not set up with appropriate cooking and shower facilities and the community is tired of them being used this way, especially when Noosa is well serviced for camping facilities well equipped to accommodate vans.”

Mr MacGillivray said people in genuine need due to rental and housing issues who may be living in cars are not the target. 

“In fact, our staff are trained to assist people in need with referrals to services that may be able to support them to find accommodation.”

Council will review the success of the trial after two months.

For information, visit the Parking Regulations page of Council’s website.