Proposal for timed parking at Dunwich and the One Mile ferry terminal, North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah

Following the 'Meet the Planner' sessions held in mid-2023, several key themes were identified. The community provided a wide range of views and objectives, highlighting the complexity. A recurring sentiment was the urgent need for change, reflecting a collective desire for improvements within the community.

Specifically, there was strong opposition to parking in foreshore areas, with many parking issues attributed to non-island residents.

By incorporating these insights into the proposed timed parking regulations, Council aims to demonstrate a proactive approach to addressing community concerns.

Results of community consultation on the proposed timed parking at Dunwich and the One Mile Ferry terminal found:

• Strong resident support for timed parking restrictions.
• Preference for specific parking durations (emphasis on longer durations such as 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours).
• Concerns about current parking arrangements' sustainability.
• Emphasis on preserving cultural heritage.
• Many Dunwich residents prefer walking to the ferry, indicating a preference for alternative modes of transportation.

Responses from the community regarding their support for timed parking revealed that 51 per cent were in support, while 39 per cent were not in support and 10 per cent were unsure.

Changes to parking

The following parking time limit restrictions will be established at the below locations:

• Parking in between the foreshore and Ron Stark Oval - 72 hours
• Parking north of One Mile ferry terminal - 72 hours
• Dunwich Community Hall, Ballow Road - 24 hours
• Cunningham Street - 24 hours
• Various locations in high demand - 12 hours

Regulated signage will be installed during the week of 17 June apply across the Dunwich township, with a two-week adjustment period commencing on 24 June and ending on 7 July. From 8 July, Council will enforce the time limits and parking fines will apply if vehicle owners do not comply with the timed parking signage.

Timed parking will be introduced in selected areas of Dunwich in June to address issues with long-term vehicle parking around the two ferry terminals.

The decision by Redland City Council follows extensive community consultation, where feedback from residents and stakeholders was considered.

Mayor Jos Mitchell said long-term vehicle parking in streets surrounding the ferry terminals had been a challenge for the community for many years.

“Since becoming Mayor, it’s been brought to my attention that some vehicles are parked for weeks and months near the ferry terminals to accommodate seasonal or occasional visitors for private holiday and rental homes,” she said.

“I’ve also been made aware that many of these vehicles are parked illegally, for example on nature strips and on footpaths where they impede pedestrian traffic and potentially damage underground infrastructure.

“Vehicles are also parked for long periods along the foreshore, which affects the amenity and the community’s enjoyment in this area.

“The introduction of timed parking in selected streets aims to address these issues, maximising the use and community benefit of available parking opportunities and preserving the natural beauty of the foreshore.”

The changes will see timed parking limits of 12, 24 or 72 hours in the streets surrounding the One Mile Ferry Terminal off Yabby Street and Dunwich Ferry Terminal off Junner Street.

Signs indicating ‘No parking’ will also be installed on Mitchell Crescent between Pamphlet Street and Bingle Road.

The new timed parking signs are scheduled to be installed in the week beginning Monday 17 June 2024.

Vehicles parked in the designated areas will have until Sunday 7 July to adjust to the changes without risk of being fined. The new time limits will be enforced from Monday 8 July.

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said the parking changes aimed to create fair access for the whole community.

“Council wants to provide a solution that supports an appropriate turnaround for local traffic in these busy areas,” he said.

“We also want to ensure there is sufficient parking availability near businesses and convenient access for tourists to reach attractions and accommodation.

“Council will closely monitor the implementation of timed parking to assess its effectiveness.”

In late 2023, Council introduced a four-hour parking limit at Dunwich Cemetery to prevent all-day parking and to allow parking for legitimate short-term use.

Council encourages drivers to ensure they park in accordance with all parking signs.

Redland City Council (Council) sought feedback from the North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah community on a proposal for timed parking at Dunwich and the One Mile ferry terminal from Monday June 26 to Sunday July 23 2023.

The proposed project is designed to balance the preservation of the area's natural beauty and environmental and cultural values with the need to improve parking. By seeking your ideas on solutions, we aim to create fair access for the whole community and maximize the use and community benefit of available parking opportunities.

Community feedback has helped inform the Council's consideration for and decision-making on timed parking at key Dunwich locations. This will help eliminate long-term informal parking, reduce public car parking for private vehicle storage, encourage greater use of existing car parks, improve foreshore amenity and preserve cultural heritage locations.

During the engagement period, Redland City Council also sought comments on a proposed amendment to Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2015 to introduce a two-hour parking limit at the Dunwich Cemetery parking area to remove informal parking from and protect this culturally sensitive site.

The parking changes around Dunwich Township are still being considered. However, the parking time limit at Dunwich Cemetery is now four hours based on community feedback that a two-hour limit would not suffice to accommodate visitors.

Between Monday 26 June and Sunday 23 July 2023, Council undertook community consultation on a proposal for timed parking at Dunwich and the One Mile ferry terminal.

Council is currently reviewing the feedback and will keep the community informed once more information on the next steps becomes available.

For updates on the parking changes at the Dunwich Cemetery, please click here.

Public consultation starts today, Monday 26 June 2023, in relation to parking at Dunwich and the One Mile ferry terminal on North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah.

The Redland City Council-led consultation aims to address parking at Dunwich to relieve parking pressures in the area, to manage foreshore areas for the wider community and to protect the environment and cultural heritage.

“Council is aware that the availability of parking in Dunwich is an issue and that some people also are parking vehicles in areas of cultural significance,” Cr Williams said.

“In some cases, vehicles are being parked in public parking spaces for several weeks, which is affecting the area’s amenity and availability of parking.

“It is vital for the island community and visitors that parking is improved to create fairer access for all to parking spaces, to help preserve the natural beauty of the Dunwich foreshore, and to ensure important cultural heritage is protected.

“The Dunwich foreshore has many fragile environmental and cultural heritage values, and Council is committed to protecting this natural environment and heritage while providing efficient parking options.”

Cr Williams said Council would be seeking public submissions on a proposal for regulated parking across Dunwich and One Mile, and the community’s ideas for other suitable approaches to parking in this picturesque part of Redlands Coast.

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said while Dunwich was certainly blessed with a wonderful foreshore and much cultural heritage, there were few means to create additional parking.

“This is why Council is seeking the community’s ideas on what people would like to see for parking in the area,” Cr Mitchell said.

“Council also will be consulting the community on a proposed change to Subordinate Local Law 5 (Parking) 2015, part of which will introduce regulated, two-hour, off-street parking at Dunwich Cemetery.

“Parking in a local government cemetery for reasons other than visiting or maintaining a grave, memorial or interment site, or attending a funeral, is prohibited under Council’s local laws, but some commuters have been using the visitor parking at the cemetery as all-day parking.

“Out of respect for the sanctity of the cemetery and the many unmarked graves there, Council is proposing to introduce regulated parking in this culturally sensitive area.

“I urge the Minjerribah community to lodge a submission on parking at Dunwich and be part of the solution to the wider parking issues in this beautiful, coastal location.”

Redland City Council’s community consultation on parking at Dunwich and the One Mile ferry terminal, and the proposed local law change to parking at the cemetery, will open on Monday 26 June as an online portal with comprehensive information and facility for public submissions, plus opportunity to provide Council with hard copy submissions.