Where parking will be restricted as part of Gold Coast City Council crackdown at Burleigh Heads

A southern Gold Coast suburb is about to become a parking war zone as changes are made to spots on the headland and beach. HAVE YOUR SAY

Burleigh is about to become a parking war zone with the pick of the spots on the headland and beach to have shorter restricted stays.

Residents and businesses have accused the council of revenue raising but the City says it is trying to free up spots after a study found residents just move their car from one bay to another.

Warning signs of new parking at Burleigh Heads.

A resident told the Bulletin: “They’ll say they are doing it to free up carparks but it’s just revenue raising. Burleigh has never been like this – it’s not Surfers Paradise.

“We thought the paid parking along the start (of Goodwin Terrace) was going to be it, and locals still had spots they could go, but now we find out we’ll have to shell out for them too.”

Another resident said the council should focus more on the needs of the Coast ratepayers.

“They care more about the tourists than the people who are coming here day in and day out, supporting businesses. It’s just another turn off for people who would have come and settled in on the hill, bought fish and chips from across the road or a coffee,” the resident said.

Burleigh businessman Scott Imlach said the council should have undertaken more consultation with traders about the time limits on parking.

“I do know they are going to be ripping out car parks left right and centre,” Mr Imlach said.

“It’s not good news. They seem to be doing these things right across the Gold Coast without consulting businesses.

“For restaurants, it’s going to be hard work. It’s not good for us full stop. The council seems to be a rule of their own, fire away on these things and ask later.

“It’s hard to dine in an hour and a half, if you’re watching your meter all the time. The parking police are out all the time. It’s hard to get a park here and it will make it harder.”

A City spokesperson said the parking review would involve expanding the existing paid parking along Goodwin Terrace to include the portion from Rudd Park to Burleigh Headland.

The City had trialled the extended use of time-limited parking controls to better manage parking demand, but this proved to be “ineffective”.

The new parking management approach was consistent with strategies to manage similar challenges along the western portion of Goodwin Terrace, the spokesperson said.

“Burleigh Heads is a high-demand recreational and beachfront area and parking needs to be managed effectively to maintain parking accessibility and availability for all users,” the spokesperson said.

A crowd on Burleigh Headland. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“These changes align with feedback from the community about the need for paid parking in this location to promote the turnover of vehicles which is beneficial to visitors and businesses.”

As part of these changes the paid parking time limits in Connor Street, West Street, Gordon & Jean Carpark will also be increased from 2P to 3P, with existing time limits on the Burleigh Headland being reduced from 3P to 2P to increase parking turnover.

The spokesperson said 50 per cent of the new parking meter revenue from Goodwin Tce would be invested in future public realm improvements.

About 1200 properties are on The Esplanade, which has 800 car spaces. The study found some parking areas were at 120 per cent capacity.

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