Noosa Council introduces time limit for parking at Noosa Spit

Residents have weighed in on the latest move by the Noosa Council to stamp out illegal camping in the tourist hotspot.

Timed parking trial at Noosa Spit seeks a fair go for all.

In a bid to stop illegal camping in a tourist hotspot, the region’s council has slapped parking limits on the Noosa Spit with varying reactions from residents.

This move is the latest in a number of actions the council has taken to deter people from staying overnight in the area.

Four-hour time limits will be placed on the end car parks on Claude Batten Drive at Noosa Spit to seek a “fair go for all”.

From December 3, council parking officers will enforce the limit with signage installed to indicate where the restrictions will apply to vehicles.

Kaitlin Brown, a young woman who has worked at Hastings Street establishments over the years said parking was usually “first in best dressed”.

“If you want to wake up at the crack of dawn to get a park, be my guest,” she said.

“While putting time limits on these spots could definitely help the traffic and parking delays, it’s also a bit hard to enjoy your day when you’re worrying about your car getting fined and keeping to a timeframe.”

A video posted to social media of campervans and 4WDs lining the carpark of the Noosa Woods and Spit area set the internet ablaze with fed up locals airing concerns. Photo: Social media

Previously, unlimited parking between 4am and 10pm was allowed.

The area, and sections of Noosa Woods, will remain a no camping zone.

The council will trial the parking change until mid-2025 in order to ease and manage parking pressure in the popular holiday destination.

The council’s local laws and environmental health acting manager Clint Irwin said the six-month trial was about giving more residents and visitors a “reasonable” opportunity to find a car park in the area.

Mr Irwin said the action was taken in response to community concerns about “damage to the environment” by illegal camping, and the council had voiced its commitment to ongoing “frequent parking and camping patrols” to ensure compliance.

The Hastings Street Association approved of the move.

The association spokeswoman Alesha Gooderham said the approach would help ensure fair access to a “beautiful location” by preventing a small number of users from occupying parking spaces for extended periods.

Noosa Spit Recreation Reserve, Claude Batten Dr, Noosa Heads QLD. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Noosa Heads resident of more than 50 years Ken Morrison said that his family loved Noosa.

“We think it’s only fair that the experience is shared, and this initiative should help ensure people are able to find a place to park,” he said.

Noosa Lions Park will also be available for parking during the Christmas period, opening up spaces for an additional 300 vehicles.

Originally published as Noosa Council introduces time limit for parking at Noosa Spit