Caravan parking continues to be a contentious topic across Australian suburbs, with tensions running high among drivers who are desperately battling for limited parking bays.
Not only do caravans add to the competition, but they have also been called out for obstructing visibility on roads, with a Queensland resident sharing his frustrations with Yahoo News this week over not one, but two of the large vehicles parked metres away from his driveway.
Fed up, Mark Cooper recently typed up and printed out ‘urgent notice’ signs in a bid to deal with the issue. He stuck the signs to the caravan sitting four metres away from his driveway in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast. He says it’s been sitting there for over eight weeks and continues to pose safety risks every time he tries to leave his home.
“It’s a busy road, and when I drive out, I’m totally blind to whether cars are coming. It’s caused multiple sharp brakes and near hits,” he told Yahoo. “There’s a childcare centre down the street, so there are lots and lots of young kids around. It’s a safety hazard.”
He claims the caravan was originally parked in another nearby street, but the owners moved it after receiving complaints from neighbours. After relocating the vehicle to a second street, and again receiving complaints, the large vehicle suddenly appeared outside his home.
“They didn’t come and ask permission to put it there, it just got dumped because their immediate neighbours didn’t want it in their street,” Mark claimed.
Mark typed and printed out signs, sticking them to the caravan parked in the street. Source: Mark Cooper
Signs stuck on caravan as ‘valuable space’ taken up
On Saturday, Mark stuck the notice signs on the caravan in a desperate plea to the owners to move the vehicle. He warned them that if they don’t do so soon, he will consider going to the local council.
“My view is almost permanently blocked… something needs to be done,” he said. “Our street is full of vehicles… it’s really hard to get a park on the street, and it’s frustrating, especially if a friend wants to come for a barbecue on a Sunday or something.
“The caravans take up valuable space.”
It’s a concern that many drivers face in built-up areas, with increased urbanisation making parking bays even more scarce in suburbs.
Council spells out rules for parking caravans on residential streets
The rules for caravan parking vary between councils around the country. The City of Gold Coast (CoGC) told Yahoo News there are set rules that need to be followed when caravans are being parked on the street in the area.
“The City remains committed to the safety of our residents and visitors,” a CoGC spokesperson said. “Under Queensland road rules, caravans and other large vehicles may legally park on public roads, including residential streets, provided they meet specific criteria.”
The vehicle must be registered and measure under 7.5 metres in length and weigh less than 4.5 tonnes. The caravan can’t be parked where any parking restrictions are enforced, and no camping or sleeping is permitted inside the vehicle.
“Anyone who believes a caravan or other vehicle is parked illegally, such as causing an obstruction or exceeding time limits, should report the matter to the City of Gold Coast,” the spokesperson said.
In this instance, there are no parking restrictions on Dolphin Avenue which would prevent the caravan parking where it is. However, Mark argues that the mobile home is causing an obstruction.
He told Yahoo he hasn’t contacted the council regarding the parked caravan, hoping the issue can be resolved between the neighbours without involving authorities. However, if the caravan isn’t moved on in the next few weeks, he confirmed he would contact the council for assistance.
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