NSW trailer parking blitz

The NSW Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay has announced new funding and parking measures for boat trailers, which he said would increase the availability of off-street parking and remove abandoned boat trailers from busy suburban streets.

Mr Gay said the NSW government was committed to cleaning up the issue of trailer dumping and remove pressure on residential roads.

"For too long communities living near the water and in coastal areas have played host to boat trailer dumping grounds and it’s just not on," Mr Gay said.

"Currently, there is no limit on the time boat trailers can park on streets and we have a situation where trailers are being abandoned for months and even years, robbing people of valuable car parks.

"To help relocate boat trailers, the NSW Government is investing $5 million to build dedicated off-street boat trailer parking facilities, particularly in metropolitan Sydney and we’re calling on councils and other businesses to register their interest.

"We’re also introducing a three-month parking limit on local streets. This means boat trailers left in the same place longer than three months will be impounded. Fines will also be issued for unregistered boat trailers left on the street.

"This change will stop the perpetual boat trailer parking offenders and strike a balance between parking a trailer for a reasonable amount of time and improving short-term parking for local residents,” Mr Gay said.

Councils will be able to issue parking permits to boat owners under changes to the Roads and Maritime Services Residential Parking Permit Guidelines. This will allow councils to use permit schemes to better manage local parking without disadvantaging local boat trailer owners.

Local MPs from some of Sydney’s busiest harbourside suburbs, John Sidoti (Drummoyne) and Gabrielle Upton (Vaucluse) said the changes would support growth in the boating sector and deliver benefits to the residents of these communities.

"The interest among the community to get involved in boating is increasing, with boat ownership growing by the thousands every year,” Mr Sidoti claimed.

"We need a clear plan in place to manage the current and increasing demand in boat trailer parking and this proposal is an important step in the right direction," he said.

"It is pleasing to see these views were reflected in the community feedback provided to the NSW Government Boat Trailer Working Group and action is being taken," Ms Upton said.

"Local communities will be glad to see a greater parking turnover, providing increased local car parks," she said.

Details for registering interest in dedicated off street boating facilities is available on the NSW Government e-tendering website www.tenders.nsw.gov.au

<< Councils will be able to issue parking permits to boat owners under changes to the Roads and Maritime Services Residential Parking Permit Guidelines. This will allow councils to use permit schemes to better manage local parking without disadvantaging local boat trailer owners.

<< Legislation will be introduced 2015 to amend the Impounding Act 1993 to limit to three months the amount of time a boat trailer can remain unmoved before councils can start impounding action. Boat trailer owners will be given 15 days notice before the trailer is removed. (Removal on safety grounds can already be done faster).

<< It’s expected these two changes will come into force early 2015

<< The Road Transport (General) Regulation 2013 will also be amended so that from December 1, 2014 council officers will be able to issue fines of $173 for unregistered trailers parked on roads.

<< BIA's previously advised in its E-News that there was an opportunity for businesses and Councils to create off-street parking opportunities. The NSW Government has announced $5 million will be available across the two years 2014-15 and 2015-16 to assist with the establishment of alternative off-road boat trailer storage. Registrations of interest are now invited from Councils and other organisations or businesses with the capacity to establish and operate innovative off-street storage solutions for boat trailers in areas where boat trailers are creating pressure on parking in residential streets.