Residents frustration at upcoming Teneriffe Festival restrictions

It is one of Brisbane’s biggest and longest-running festivals, yet this inner-city celebration of wine, food and fun has residents concerned they will be locked out of their homes for three days.

Residents frustration at upcoming Tenerife Festival restrictions

It is one of Brisbane’s biggest and longest-running festivals, yet this weekend’s Teneriffe Festival has residents concerned they will be locked out of their homes for three days.

Restricted car access and a requirement to show identification to enter their own homes, starting this Friday, has sparked a division among fans and those upset the size of the restricted zone is too large.

The annual festival will affect those living in Florence, Ethel, Dath and Beeston streets and also Vernon Tce from 6am on June 7 until 12pm on June 9.

Locals were required to move their vehicles away from the area in that time.

Davina Miranda, who said she had been living at the Winchcombe Carson Woolstores apartments in Vernon Tce for eight years, said her concerns had been brushed off.

“Council has ignored my requests to provide residents with local access or, failing that, reasonable alternative parking arrangements,’’ she said.

“We are being denied access to our own car parks, from 6am on Friday June 6 to 12pm on Sunday, and are expected to park in streets that the festival is closing off — in an area that has very limited parking.

“People have to go to work on Friday, take their kids to school, do extra-curricular activities, people have competitions and travel (planned) at the weekend.’’

Teneriffe Festival organisers and Council were contacted for comment.

But the festival confirmed on its website that all car parks within the event footprint would be affected and access restricted or blocked.

Crowds at the Teneriffe Festival. Photo: RM Photography.

“If you need to access your vehicle during this time, please move your vehicle to street parking outside of the festival footprint before Friday,” they advised locals.

The festival had reserved limited parking spaces for residents with special requirements.

“All parking (requests) will be considered on a case-by-case scenario,” the website said.

Teneriffe’s Paul Brown said residents had been instructed to show identification to obtain a pass that granted them access to their homes.

“I have asked the festival to explain how legally they may restrict visitors from attending my home,” Mr Brown said.

Another local, Matt Raymond, said he first attended the festival when attendance entry was a gold coin donation.

“It once had minimal street closures, while maintaining existing residents access to their car parks and buildings,” Mr Raymond said.

“They have progressively over a number of years increased the closures and restricted residents access.

“What was a community event is now a money making event.’’

Ms Miranda said she had seen the negative impact the festival has had on some small businesses in the area.

“The impact is quite negative as clients can’t or wont access them on the busiest days,’’ she said.

“Effectively the businesses lose more than half a week of income.

“Each year the closures are longer and I need to provide ID with my address at the gates in order to access my building.’’