Future of Collaroy’s Pittwater Rd pop-up weekend car market up in the air

It has been an institution on the northern beaches for decades, but the popular unofficial roadside car market on Pittwater Rd is in doubt. See what it means for sellers here.

Cars “for sale” parked along Pittwater Rd at Collaroy. Official advice from NSW Transport officials states it is illegal to advertise a vehicle for sale on a public road without prior approval from a council. Picture: Supplied

The push to put the brakes on a popular pop-up roadside community car mart on the northern beaches has been given a boost.

Transport officials confirmed that the practice of locals parking up to 100 vehicles, with hand made “For Sale” signs, at weekends along Pittwater Rd at Collaroy, is illegal.

The unofficial car yard — stretching for hundreds of metres between Anzac Pde and Hadleigh Ave — has become the focus of growing complaints from nearby business owners and shopkeepers.

They say parking outside their premises at the weekend is overtaken by people, visiting nearby Griffith Park, who can’t find a place to park because of the cars for sale.

Cars are parked for sale in the southbound bus lane on Pittwater Rd, Collaroy and Long Reef from Friday night to Sunday night at the unofficial weekend car market that’s been operating for at least 30 years. Picture: Supplied

Independent councillor on Northern Beaches Council, Vincent De Luca, who has been pushing for decades for the car market to be banned for safety reasons, has received advice from Transport for NSW.

Cr De Luca has been pressing the council the introduce a two-hour parking restriction to deter people trying to sell their cars on the roadside.

Transport officiasl told him in a letter that under the Local Government Act “it is illegal to advertise a vehicle for sale, or any other article, on a public road or in a public place without prior approval from council”.

“For years, residents, local businesses and beachgoers, have complained about cars for sale along Pittwater Rd, Collaroy and Long Reef every Friday night to Sunday night,” Cr De Luca said.

“Those complaining also have routinely pointed to the safety risks of people walking on to the heavy traffic on Pittwater Rd while viewing vehicles as well as the loss of car spaces for locals and particularly businesses losing custom due to no parking.

“I welcome the State Government’s advice that this activity is unlawful unless approved by council.”

The advice comes as the council opened public submissions on June 16 about the possibility of getting rid of the car market

It wants to “engage with the community to understand any concerns and possible solutions regarding the sale of private cars along Pittwater Rd”.

Cr Vincent De Luca wants two-hour parking restrictions implemented to bring a halt to the weekend car mart at Collaroy, seen here adjacent to Griffith Park. Picture: Supplied

Ted Crump, who owns swimming pool maintenance business, Collaroy Swim ‘N’ Pool, said the cars for sale on Pittwater Rd meant that people visiting Griffith Park and its nearby tennis courts, parked outside his premises.

“They end up taking spots where customers of mine, and other businesses, would normally park,” Mr Crump said.

“The whole neighbourhood is parked out.”

Mr Crump said the unofficial weekend car market was an “accident waiting to happen”.

“People just suddenly pull up in front of you on Pittwater Rd to have a look at the cars for sale.”

Cr De Luca, who has been lobbying state governments about the problem since the 1990s, urged people to have their say.