Drivers may have to pay to drive through one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, in the hope it will deter tourists from flooding the area.
Queensland‘s Noosa Heads has surged in popularity in recent years, and a few of the town’s main roads have become heavily congested.
It’s become a real issue for locals, who are sick of seeing cars parked bumper-to-bumper along their pristine beachside streets.
They’ve been asking Noosa Shire Council to do something about it for some time.
Local business operator Louise, who works on Hastings Street at clothing store Okanui, told Daily Mail Noosa had certainly grown in popularity since Covid.
She said there was a notable difference in how busy the peak periods were.
‘Oh, it’s definitely doubled in how busy it is in the summer,’ she said.
‘It does get crazy. We could end up like Byron Bay in terms of parking metres and that would be horrendous.’
Noosa Heads is becoming so popular that a congestion charge may be implemented
Hastings Street is one of the more popular regions of Noosa and suffers from heavy traffic in the summer time
The council is considering introducing Australia’s first congestion road charge, similar to those used in London and New York.
It hasn’t been decided yet how drivers would be charged for using popular roads, but it could be via a tag on their car or even an old-fashioned toll booth.
The charge to drive on certain roads would likely apply only on weekends and during school holidays to begin with.
More paid parking is also set to be introduced in busy areas, but residents would be charged at lower rates.
The council also wants to introduce more transport infrastructure to discourage tourists from driving their cars along busy roads.
The council’s Destination Management Plan found the town was “being loved to death,” requiring a balance between mitigating issues caused by tourists and making them feel welcome.
Locals have until September to provide feedback to the council before a decision is made.
“Given we’re still in the community engagement and feedback stage, there’s nothing concrete that’s been decided on this as yet,” a council spokesperson told Daily Mail.
Tourists have been flocking to Noosa in recent years and are taking over in some parts
Hastings Street is filled with shops, bars and restaurants, making it popular for tourists
The council has proposed establishing vehicle recognition technology on its roads to help distinguish local cars from out-of-town vehicles, ensuring residents aren’t slugged with most of the fees.
Professor Matthew Burke from Griffith University told Yahoo News that congestion charges for tourists in places like Noosa could work well.
“It would free up that strip (Hastings Street) and discourage people from heading in and causing congestion to everyone else,” he said.
The congestion charge and added parking meters may also deter illegal campers, who are currently plaguing Noosa.
Council introduced $333 fines in July for anyone caught illegally camping along the Peregian Esplanade or at Victory Park along Lorikeet Drive.
To date, 50 fines have been handed out in the area.
The congestion charge is the latest council move that’s set to spark debate among locals.
Last year, two groups of Noosa residents clashed over the council’s Planning Scheme Amendments, which proposed extending trading hours at popular night spots to midnight every day of the week.
Some locals supported more nightlife at Noosa Junction, while others feared the laid-back charm of Noosa would be shattered.
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Aussie drivers to be CHARGED to drive through a popular town