Resident claims parking restriction for boats on one street just shifted problem

A Fairlight resident is calling on Manly Council to clamp down on the boats and trailers that are causing chaos on a residential street.

Vicky Stokes and her daughter Lexi 3 is one of the local resident who wants the council to fix the parking situation on Harland Street in Fairlight. Boats and trailers constantly cramming up the narrow street which is used by residents; childcare centre and school.

• Sea Eagles rent deal rejected by council
• Pittwater mourns passing of activist Harvey Rose

A Fairlight resident is calling on Manly Council to clamp down on the boats and trailers that are causing chaos on a residential street.

Vicky Stokes said the council recently placed a four-hour parking restriction in Balgowlah Rd in a bid to stop boats and trailers parking there permanently.

However, Ms Stokes said all that had done was shift the issue to a narrow street nearby, making matters worse.

“Placing the signs has just moved the issue along and, unfortunately, this has caused a big problem along Harland St,” Ms Stokes said.

She said Harland St was small and extremely busy.

“It has a large daycare campus and is well-used by school parents as a cut-through and parking area,” Ms Stokes said.

“We have had numerous small incidents due to a narrow road, bad visibility and too much speed.”

Ms Stokes said her wing mirrors were smashed twice.

Vicky Stokes and her daughter Lexi standing next to the many boats and trailers parked on Harland Street in Fairlight. Picture: Annika Enderborg.

“It’s getting really dangerous now – it’s an accident waiting to happen,” she said.

Ms Stokes contacted the council to ask that Harland St be restricted to residential parking only.

She was told that this was not possible and that permits would not be issued to exempt trailers or boats from parking there.

However, when asked about the issue, a Manly Council spokesman told the Manly Daily that the council was monitoring the unrestricted parking of boat trailers and other trailers and would “if needed, review kerbside parking arrangements in consultation with residents”.

Caravans, boats and trailers that are parked on residential streets have been an ongoing issue on the northern beaches.

The State Government recently launched a $5 million crackdown in a bid to fix the problem.

Under new measures, boats left in the same place for more than three months can legally be impounded.

The new rules won’t be phased in until later this year or early next year.

Currently, councils do not have the power to impound boat trailers that are legally parked, unless they are abandoned.