Black Rock residents fuming over boats, trailers dumped on suburban street
Fuming Black Rock homeowners have complained about Bayside boat owners using a public grass area to store trailers and water craft for free. But the council says the cheeky boaters are in their sights.
Inner South
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A Black Rock street has become a dumping ground for boats and trailers, leaving residents furious as owners from other suburbs travel to cash in on the free storage.
Previously enjoying uninterrupted views out to luscious Royal Melbourne Golf Club greens, residents at the end of Fern St off Bluff Rd are now facing dozens of boats and trailers, with owners coming from as far as Cheltenham, Beaumaris and Sandringham to store their property because there’s no law to stop them.
And homeowners in the area have slammed the “disrespectful” dumpers, urging them to keep their belongings at their own house or pay for a storage facility.
They said as many as 15 boats and trailers had been piling up for “more than a year”, after word slowly got out about the unrestricted patch of grass which backs onto the golf course and neighbours of the Black Rock Tennis and Bowling Club.
“It’s become a trailer and boating storage centre … it’s an eyesore,” one resident, who did not want to be named, told Leader.
“All of these people have houses in Sandringham and Beaumaris with their own gardens and front lawns, and just think ‘great, now I don’t have to look at my boat or trailer.
“Why should the people on Fern St and surrounds have to look out to these crappy boats?”
But the dumpers could soon have to store their belongings at their own street, with Bayside Council City Planning and Amenity acting director Matthew Cripps confirming they would consider introducing a new local law to control long term parking on Fern St.
The new rule would control the parking of caravans, boats and trailers under 7.5 metres in length or weighing less than 4.5 tonne on council land.
“We are aware of a number of owners storing their boats and trailers on road reserves around the municipality and infringing on the open space of neighbours and residents …(there has been) complaints from residents in Fern St,” he said.
“At February’s ordinary meeting, council considered a report on the long term parking of caravans, boats and trailers on council land and the options to address community concerns.
“(Consideration) will be done as part of an overall review of Bayside’s Local Law later in 2020 … this will include extensive community consultation.”
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Mr Cripps said the council had also deployed more parking officers to patrol the area.
“(Currently) caravans, boats and trailers under 7.5 metres in length or weighing less than 4.5 tonne on council land must be parked lawfully and not cause a safety issue,” he said.
“Council encourages boat and trailer owners — both residents and from other suburbs — to store their boats and trailers on private property.”