Gail O’Neill responds to parking complaints in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast

A southern Gold Coast councillor has responded to multiple parking complaints and some say it is “just a matter of time before there is a serious accident” in the beachside suburb.

It’s the picture that sums up how popular the southern Gold Coast has become.

The parking crush on Coolangatta’s Musgrave Street reinforces the fast-evolving growing pains of the area with the division councillor Gail O’Neill lamenting she’s “more than aware” of resident gripes about increasing development.

The southern-based Division 14 councillor said she has responded to multiple parking complaints in Coolangatta with some saying it is “just a matter of time before there is a serious accident” in the beachside suburb.

On Tuesday, a Coolangatta resident shone a light on the reality of parking in the suburb and shared a photo of multiple cars parked along a decent length of Musgrave Street, effectively turning it into a one way.

The cars were parked along the two-way section of Musgrave St, causing such bad congestion only one car could fit through at a time.

“It’s just a matter of time before a serious accident occurs.”

Ms O’Neill confirmed she had received complaints regarding parking on Musgrave St.

Multiple cars parked along Musgrave St in Coolangatta causing congestion. Photo: Facebook

In December, Ms O’Neill said she made an official request for transport and traffic officers access the situation.

“The assessment was completed and I have been informed that there will be yellow lines installed in partial areas on both sides of the road and part of the centre line will be removed.”

“I believe these works were attempted by contractors pre-Christmas but could not be completed due to parked vehicles not being removed by their owners.”

Multiple Coolangatta residents blamed the parking fiasco on recent development in the area.

Council population forecast statistics show Division 14 - comprising Coolangatta, Bilinga, Currumbin, Elanora, Kirra, Rainbow Bay, Tugun, Tallebudgera (part of) and Tallebudgera Valley (part of) - will rise from just over 37,000 in 2021 to more than 47,000 in 2041.

“Stop building high rises with only one car space per unit,” Jo Duncan said.

“It’s ridiculous the parking anywhere in Coolangatta now. There is not enough parking space in the units built and those that are being built,” Donna Payne added.

Ms O’Neill confirmed council had planned upgrades for Jarvis Lane and Goodwin Park carpark over the next two years to combat the parking issues.

However, she said she did not believe Coolangatta had “a parking problem” in comparison to other Gold Coast beachside suburbs such as Burleigh Heads.

Ms O’Neill said she was “more than aware” of residents’ grievances with increased development in the area.

Artist impression of KTQ's Kirra Point precinct development, featuring the new-look Kirra Beach Hotel and Kirra Beach House

“But Coolangatta CBD, Rainbow Bay and coastal area of Kirra have been zoned ‘high and medium density’ for in excess of 20 years under several previous City Plans,” she said.

“These areas are envisaged for both residential and tourist accommodation.

Ms O’Neill said she believed the amount of development was “in part, contributable to the interstate migration” since post Covid-19.

“I believe that the height and density zoning needs to be reassessed for Rainbow Bay, Local Area Planning needs to be reintroduced and ‘up to 50 per cent’ above zoned height should be removed under its current criteria,” she said.

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Originally published as Gail O’Neill responds to parking complaints in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast