New Boat Trailer Parking Restrictions

In January and February 2017, Willoughby residents were encouraged to have their say about the proposed introduction of new boat trailer parking restriction across the entire Willoughby Local Government Area (LGA).

This followed recent amendments to The Impounding Act, 1993 that grants councils new powers regarding boat trailer parking restrictions.

Willoughby Council has endorsed (Council Meeting of Monday 22 May 2017) new powers relating to boat trailer parking throughout Willoughby City Council, designed to discourage the nuisance caused by the long-term parking of unattended registered boat trailers on public roads, often caused by people who do not live in the local area.

This follows overwhelming support from the local community for the new restrictions (82.8 per cent of survey participants), during community consultation. The new powers also aim to encourage off-street storage of boat trailers to free up on-street parking spaces for local residents.

The new legislation (following recent amendments to The Impounding Act, 1993) relates only to registered boat trailers, with registered box trailers and caravans excluded. The changes enable councils to implement tighter management arrangements in relation to registered boat trailers that may otherwise be parking lawfully on public roads.

Under the new powers, nuisance boat trailers may be required to move at least every 28 days, and must move at least one street block. If the boat trailer does not move, Council must provide the registered owner with 15 days’ notice before impounding the trailer and also has the option of establishing a charge for the release of an impounded item.

Over the last 12 months Council received 30 complaints about boat trailer parking.