Northern Beaches Council to prepare ‘action plan’ to target long-term back street boat, trailer parking
After receiving nearly a complaint a day about boats, trailers and caravans being parked in suburban streets, a Sydney council is set to begin work on an “action plan” to tackle the “epidemic”.
Manly
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Boat, caravan and trailer owners who leave their vehicles in northern beaches back streets for lengthy periods may have to pay for parking permits as part of a new council “action plan”.
Special parking zones could also be created to help remove the boats and trailers, which critics say are causing “community tension”, from outside homes and businesses.
The council has decided to tackle what was described as an “epidemic” after receiving 288 complaints last financial year about the vehicles causing parking, road safety and “visual amenity” issues.
Vincent De Luca, an independent member of the Northern Beaches Council, introduced a motion at a Tuesday night meeting, calling on staff to develop a “targeted action plan within six months”.
As part of Cr De Luca’s motion, which was passed 14 votes to one, staff would also look 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.
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.
Last financial year, council rangers impounded 10 boat trailers, with boats attached, as well as 14 trailers, mostly for not having number plates affixed and being in disrepair. The council also handed out 43 fines for abandoned vehicles or trailers and 240 fines for unregistered trailers.
Under current state government rules surrounding “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. Owners have 15 days to move the vehicle once they have been notified.
Cr De Luca said there were not enough council rangers available to fine the long-term parkers.
He said it was becoming “a serious risk to public safety” and “one of the most significant issues our community is complaining about”.
“We’ve all seen vehicles flying around, obstructed by boats and near collisions happen,” he said.
“It is becoming an epidemic.
“We cannot have public roads turned into public car parks for businesses … and turned into storage facilities for trailers and boats, particularly by people from out of the area.”
Cr De Luca said because of the cost of storage, tradies were buying lockable trailers, parking them in public streets and using them as de facto storage facilities for their equipment and materials.
Greens councillor Kristyn Glanville said parking frustrations had generated a “lot of tension between community members” about what was considered a “fair and reasonable” sharing of public space.
“I’d like to us have a bit more action, particularly in areas that we know are hotspots … where it is creating persistent safety issues or community frustrations about sharing public roads.”
Hotspots included Kenneth Rd in North Manly, Ocean St in Narrabeen, The Crescent in Dee Why, Stone Pde in Davidson and Hudson Pde in Clareville, as well as parts of Bayview.
Greens councillor Ethan Hrnjak said Frenchs Forest and Davidson had become problem areas.
“We have a lot of wide, empty and appealing streets where people feel they are able to park boats, trailers and campervans without much by way of repercussions.
“Attempts to put up signage, or move boats around, does exactly that. They’ll shift on to the next street and the fight starts all over again.”
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 timeframes, 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
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