Gold Coast development: Tradies block Palm Beach footpath

Residents of a congested Gold Coast suburb are calling for a review into a makeshift car park that’s “taken over” a beachfront pathway. DETAILS >>>

RESIDENTS enjoying a morning walk through a congested Gold Coast suburb are calling for council to review a makeshift car park that’s “taken over” a portion of beachfront pathway.

Barry Barbour, who’s resided at Palm Beach for a decade, discovered the unusual set up which included a portable toilet, while exercising near 26th Avenue on Tuesday.

Images supplied to the Bulletin show five vehicles – suspected to belong to tradies – crammed nose-to-tail outside a construction zone, rendering the walkway inaccessible to passers-by.

Palm Beach residents are fed up with blocked pathways. Picture: supplied

It is understood the workers are employed at a site earmarked for a high-rise development along the esplanade, adjacent to the oceanway.

“They’ve completely taken over the walkway because there’s nowhere else to park in the area. It’s not totally the tradies’ fault, they probably don’t realise that it’s wrong” Mr Barbour said.

“I’m not the sort of person to stand in front of progress, but the locals, we walk so regularly, and we’re really annoyed that the area’s become a developer’s paradise.”

Mr Barbour, 72, has not spoken directly with workers at the site but Councillor Daphne McDonald has been contacted over the matter.

“The people in palmy are getting sick of being duped,” he said.

Cars parked along Palm Beach footpaths, while a portable toilet also blocks the walkway. Picture: supplied

“The consideration for locals is pretty low. Us poor monkeys who live down in Palm Beach are just told to deal with it, nobody with any wealth even wanted to live here 10 years ago.”

It comes after The Bulletin revealed earlier this month that council officers were allowing a developer to use public parkland next to Southport Surf Life Saving Club for portable construction offices, prompting a wave of complaints.

Cr McDonald, however, confirmed that was not the case in this instance.

“This is a brand new pathway, what people are doing by parking on there is illegal,” Cr McDonald said.

A vehicle blocks pedestrian access to the Palm Beach walkway. Picture: supplied

She said officers were looking into permanent solutions, either plants or bollards, to prevent repeat instances.

A council spokesperson told the Bulletin that officers visited the site on Wednesday.

“Our City parking officers regularly patrol this area and today education and enforcement action was taken,” they said. “Ongoing patrols will be conducted in this area to ensure compliance.”

The penalty amount for parking on the footpath area is $110.

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Originally published as Gold Coast development: Tradies block Palm Beach footpath