Gold Coast City Council under fire for turning parking spaces into loading zones

A number of prominent Gold Coast retail precincts have been dealt a devastating blow by council during a time when many of the businesses are battling to stay open. Some have labelled the move “outrageous” and a “kick while we’re still down”.

BATTLING Gold Coast businesses have accused the city council of kicking them while they’re down from COVID-19, after parking spaces outside their premises were suddenly declared loading zones.

New loading zones have sprung up at Palm Beach overnight on Monday, with others reportedly in place at Burleigh Heads.

A new loading zone at Palm Beach which has dealt a devastating blow to businesses already struggling due to coronavirus.

Furious Palm Beach coffee shop owner Tim Casagrande, who saw four parking spots outside his Highline Cafe in Palm Beach Ave suddenly disappear, said he was told by the council that the move was aimed at discouraging people from going out during the pandemic.

“It just seems outrageous,” he said.

“At a time when we’re struggling to get back on our feet from coronavirus, the council is kicking us while we’re still down.”

Mr Casagrande said his cafe – which shares a building with a kebab shop, a hairdressers and a solicitor’s office – had only just reopened to dine in customers.

“Our trade is already down about 15 to 20 per cent this morning after they took away carparks and made it a loading zone,” he said.

“This will be worse for my business long-term than COVID-19 itself.”

Solicitor Paul Carter, of Southern Gold Coast Lawyers, said he had disabled clients who parked outside the building.

“It’s just terrible for local business at a time when we need all the help we can get,” he said.

“The council is putting these loading zones all up the Gold Coast Highway (at Palm Beach). All the cafes and bakeries are going to go broke.”

One opponent of the new Palm Beach Ave loading zone has already cheekily written ‘coffee zone’ on the sign.

A council spokeswoman said the ‘temporary’ new loading zones were in response to demand from local businesses in hospitality precincts.

“A small number of temporary loading zones have been implemented to allow for the higher proportion of customers who are taking-away food from local eateries whilst social distancing restrictions (and restaurant / café capacities) remain in place,” she said.

“These temporary loading zones have been established in locations where there are also long-term parking options for customers or visitors who wish to stay longer.”

It’s believed cafe customers will be able to park in the loading zones for 20 minutes.