Ingleside: Council urged to act against roadside boat dumpers

Frustrated property owners say authorities are not doing enough to track down and fine selfish boat owners who are dumping ugly, dilapidated vessels along northern beaches’ back roads.

An abandoned boat, without a trailer, tied to a tree by the side of Walter Rd, Ingleside, on Friday. Locals say boats like this are turning their neighbourhoods into a dumping ground. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Angry locals are upset with Northern Beaches Council for not doing enough to get rid of ugly and dilapidated boats, and their trailers, abandoned on semirural back roads.

One Ingleside resident says he has been lobbying council officials for close to two years to track down the owners of the seemingly abandoned vessels — or take them to the tip.

The local, who asked not to be identified, says he has lodged dozens of complaints to the council about illegally parked or dumped boats.

Several boats and trailers, seen by this masthead on Walter Rd in Ingleside, which accommodates several expensive residential acreages, appeared to be in disrepair.

One small half cabin cruiser is simply resting on its keel, without a trailer, and tied with a rope to a large gum tree.

Rubbish dumped in a boat by the side of Walter Rd, Ingleside, on Friday. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Others are filled with rubbish such as building materials and assorted junk. One boat contains an old microwave oven.

“When we moved here two years ago, there were old, ugly boats dumped by the side of our road,” the resident said.

An dilapidated boat by the side of Walter Rd, Ingleside, on Friday. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“They have never been moved by their owners.

“And they’re still there.”

The resident said the unseaworthy vessels had become targets for opportunistic thieves who make off with outboard engine parts.

“We have to drive past what has become basically a messy marina. It ruins my day, every day.

On dry land: An abandoned boat by the side of Walter Rd. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“People have paid a lot of money to live in this paradise, but this is just terrible.”

Between January 1, 2024, and March 20, 2025, the council responded to 18 complaints at Walter Rd about illegally parked vehicles and boat trailers.

Enforcement action was taken on six of those occasions, resulting in council seeking owners to remove the offending vehicles. On the 12 other occasions, vehicles were found to be legally parked, registered and not creating a traffic or pedestrian safety concern.

A Northern Beaches Council “Unattended Property” notice attached to an abandoned boat by the side of Walter Rd, Ingleside, on Friday. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

The complaints come as the council was continuing to work on a draft action plan to tackle the epidemic of boats, caravans and trailers parked in residential streets.

It received 288 complaints last financial year about the vehicles causing parking, road safety and “visual amenity” issues across the council area.

Rubbish, including a microwave oven, dumped in an abandoned boat at Ingleside. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

As part of the plan, council staff were looking at introducing a “paid parking permit system for the storage of boats, caravans, and trailers”. The plan would also identify specific streets or zones where designated parking areas could be introduced, in consultation with locals.

Thieves took parts of an outboard motor by the side of Walter Rd. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

There are about 17,000 registered boat trailers, box trailers and caravans in the Northern Beaches Council area. The council has previously been told some of the vehicles parked long-term were from outside the area.

Under current state government rules on “unattended vehicles in public places”, registered, roadworthy vehicles parked in the same spot on a residential street for more than 28 days must be moved or risk a $660 fine.

Trailers are allowed to park on the street under the same provision as a motor vehicle.

The NSW rules for unattended vehicles left in public places.

RULES FOR LEAVING VEHICLES IN PUBLIC PLACES

Source: NSW Office of Local Government

As part of NSW Government rules on vehicles, including boat trailers, other trailers and caravans left in public places, local councils can notify the owner that their vehicle is causing a safety risk or an obstruction or has been left unattended in one place for too long.

— If the vehicle is causing an obstruction or safety risk, it must be removed immediately;

— If unregistered, and left in place for more than three days, it must be removed within 15 days of the owner being notified;

— If registered, but unable to be legally driven (e.g. due to damage), and left unattended in one place for three days, it must be moved within 15 days of the owner being notified.

— If registered and left unattended in one place for more than 28 days, it must be moved within 15 days of the owner being notified.

— If the vehicle is not moved within the time frames, the council may move the vehicle causing a safety risk or an obstruction to a safer place in the same general area, or take possession of the vehicle and move it to a place of storage, and issue a fine.

— Fines of $660 apply for leaving a vehicle unattended