Noosa Council moves to reopen 300 car parks at Lions Park over peak holiday periods

Noosa Council have revealed the future for a local public space which has previously been converted into a car park over the busy Christmas and New Year’s period.

The Noosa Heads Lions Park. Picture: Contributed

The Noosa Council has committed to improving congestion in Hastings St over busy holiday periods, revealing plans to reopen 300 car spaces at Lions Park and continuing the operation of a drop-off-only zone at Main Beach.

The Noosa Heads Lions Park, which provides enough parking for 300 cars, is expected to be back up and running for the 2024 Christmas period and the 2025 Easter holiday period, ahead of public consultation.

It comes as the Noosa Council also announced the Main Beach car park will go back to being a drop-off zone for scooters, motorcycles and disability between December 23 and January 5.

The drop-off will temporarily close for two days to allow support services to “monitor and manage” patron’s behaviour on New Year’s Eve.

Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie said the council had taken on the feedback provided on the controversial People’s Park trial last year, and were looking to listen to public feedback on the use of Lions Park in the future.

“We have an obligation to honour what we said back in March 2023 as part of a council resolution,” Cr Wilkie said.

“We had wanted to specifically ask the community about whether they support using public open spaces for carparking, particularly Lions Park and we’ve yet to do that.

“So this decision gives us a time frame to complete that engagement and again shows we’re listening to the community.”

The Noosa Heads Lions Park. Picture: Contributed

Acting Infrastructure Services Director Shaun Walsh said the feedback from the community regarding the drop-off zone was generally positive and helped to keep traffic moving.

“The feedback from last year’s trial is that many users appreciated the functional aspects of the drop-off zone so close to the beach during an incredibly busy period,” Mr Walsh said.

“And we are really wanting to make it safer for everyone and keep traffic moving through the Hastings Street/Noosa Drive roundabout.”

The Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club is expected to resume its operation of the Lions Park car park.