New ‘impounding’ laws to move trailer boats off congested eastern suburbs streets

NEIGHBOURHOOD rows caused by trailers and boats parked on residential streets across the eastern suburbs could be eased by new council impounding laws coming into effect this year.

Albert Habib parks his boat on the corner of Hardy and Liverpool Street Rose Bay which is close to his house, but has received complains from nearby residents.

NEIGHBOURHOOD rows caused by trailers and boats parked on residential streets across the eastern suburbs could be eased by new council impounding laws coming into effect this year.

From October 1, councils can impound trailers parked for more than 28 days on a suburban street.

Rose Bay resident Albert Habib, who said he had experienced “outright aggressiveness” from neighbours because he kept his boat on their street, said the measures were grossly unfair.

“I am absolutely astonished, how is that fair and equitable?” Mr Habib said.

“If they had said you have to move it every three months, I would have understood.

But 28 days? I might as well get rid of it.”

Mr Habib says 28 days is a completely impractical window for boat owners to be park in one spot.

Mr Habib said where he lived on Liverpool St, Rose Bay, the road was too narrow to turn into with the trailer behind his car, so he had been keeping it 200m away near the corner of Hardy St, which angered residents there.

He said some people had screamed at him while others had simply explained their children needed to park their cars.

“They don’t seem to understand the ownership of their property does not extend to the road,” he said.

“There is nowhere else in the eastern suburbs for me to leave my boat, there’s no free land.”

Councils have the opportunity to “opt in” for the new impounding rights and must report to the Office of Local Government by March 30 with specific streets where they want the rules to apply.

The government has told councils boats must move “at least as far as a different block section of the same street” to avoid being impounded under the laws.

It will be up to council rangers to monitor and impound boat owners who offend.

Transport for NSW will provide grants up to $5 million for new off-street boat trailer storage.