Northern beaches residents urged to dob in long term backstreet boat, caravan and trailer parkers

After ongoing complaints from frustrated locals about boats, trailers and caravans being left in backstreets, a Sydney council will ask residents identify “hot spots” causing safety and parking problems.

Trailers and a boat parked in Government Rd, Beacon Hill. The council wants residents to identify inappropriate parking “hot spots”. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Northern beaches residents will be urged to dob in boat, caravan and trailers left for lengthy periods in street “hot spots” that cause road safety and parking problems.

Council rangers would then increase patrols, or “Motor Vehicles Only” parking signs would be put up at the locations.

The move is contained in a motion unanimously passed by Northern Beaches Council to address ongoing concerns from residents about boats, caravans and trailers being left in backstreets.

Council officials will also prepare a submission to the state government, asking that it toughen up parking rules and look at allowing a local parking permit scheme to discourage “inappropriate parking”.

There are about 17,000 registered boat trailers, box trailers and caravans in the Northern Beaches Council area.

A camping trailer and a boat parked in Beacon Hill. The council received 288 complaints last financial year. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

The council has been told some of the vehicles parked long-term were from outside the area.

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

Trailers and boats parked on backstreets are frustrating locals who have difficulty finding street parking spaces. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

In 2024/25 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.

A staff report to the council meeting last week revealed that the suburbs of Cromer and Collaroy received the highest number of complaints about trailer parking.

”Waterside localities such as Bayview also receiving complaints but not to the same extent,” the report stated

Trailers parked in The Crescent, Dee Why. Tradies are using the trailers as de facto storage facilities for tools, equipment and materials. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The council was also advised that its ranger team currently do targeted patrols in known “hot spots” and that parking signs allowing motor vehicles only had been introduced where parking for locals was affected or there were “potential safety impacts”.

It was also told that four extra rangers would need to be employed to increase monitoring and patrols in known hot spots, at a cost of $400,000.

But independent councillor Vincent De Luca, who introduced the motion that was amended with his agreement by Greens councillor Kristyn Glanville, told the meeting that the council needed to take “substantive action”.

“Residents continually complain,” Cr De Luca said.

“We see large craft, obstructing vision causing accidents. We’ve seen trailers parked, as storage devices, obstructing vision and causing accidents.

Boats and trailers parked by the side of Walter Rd, Ingleside. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“Until this is properly dealt with, we will continue to be a car park, unfortunately, for boats and trailers, and now storage trailers, across the area.”

Cr Glanville’s amendment called for council staff develop a strategy to encourage residents to report “hot spots” for inappropriate parking of trailers, boats and caravans.

“I think the intention here of identifying hots spots is to really help identify areas where there are safety issues and also areas where we can implement signage like ‘motor vehicles only’ parking to prioritise people being able to park their cars … rather than long term boat or trailer storage in the street,” she said.

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