Noosa Council to bring in massive increase in parking fines

Sunshine Coast residents and tourists flouting one parking rule face fines of more than $600 under radical changes designed to increase turnover in spaces. See all the proposed changes.

Noosa is revamping its parking fines.

The Noosa Council has moved to hike parking fines, in a decision that will see infringement notices surpass that of neighbouring local government areas.

At the Noosa Council’s special meeting earlier this week, councillors were presented with a recommendation to increase the penalty units issued for a number of minor traffic offences.

According to the report, the penalty unit set by the state government for a minor traffic offence in 2025/26 will be $166.90.

Councillors were told during the meeting the last time the parking fines had been reviewed by the council was in 2015, when they were first endorsed.

If approved, the recommendation would mean the offence of parking in designated disability parking space would increase to four penalty units from two, totalling to a bill of $667.6.

The fine for parking for longer than indicated will be bumped from half a penalty unit to 0.75 per cent, overtaking the neighbouring Sunshine Coast Council’s fine of 0.5 per cent.

The total fine for overstaying in a parking spot will increase to about $125, up from about $83.

Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie voted along with councillors to support increasing parking fines. Picture: Iwan Jones

Fines for stopping in loading and other no stopping areas will also be increased by 25 per cent to the full unit of $166.9.

The report stated the increases would help manage congestion in busy areas of Noosa.

“The resulting increase in the amount of the infringement issued, will act to discourage overstays, helping to alleviate congestion and improve parking availability in high demand areas,” the report stated.

“Furthermore, any driver that adheres to the regulations would not be impacted and therefore any increase to penalties should further serve as incentive for proactive compliance.”

A 21-day period of public consultation will be held by the council before the increases are formally introduced.

“A report will be presented to Council after the end of the public consultation period at which time Council will be obliged to decide whether to proceed,” the report stated.

The Noosa Council voted unanimously in support of progressing with the recommendation and consultation.

Originally published as Noosa Council to bring in massive increase in parking fines