As per our February 2021 Noosa 360 update, in 2018 Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Noosa Council entered into an agreement whereby council would apply its local laws to Noosa National Park to address concerns about overnight and long-term parking in and around the national park. Following enquiries from our office, we have received the below update from the Queensland Minister for the Environment:
In 2023, QPWS rangers noted an increase in campervans and illegal camping in Noosa NP carparks.
A council compliance officer was assaulted whilst undertaking compliance duties after hours in a council-managed carpark outside the national park.
As a result, council implemented further safety measures, including engaging Queensland Police Service (QPS) support when undertaking patrols in high-risk areas.
Council undertake targeted patrols over peak periods with QPS support.
QPWS, along with council, are looking at options to improve enforcement, such as the use of camera technology or potentially hard closures overnight.
Council is the correct entity for community members to direct concerns about overstaying the regulated times within the carparks.
Concurrently, QPWS will continue to collaborate with council to address this issue and uphold compliance.
Noosa Council can be contacted on (07) 5329 6500 or via mail@noosa.qld.gov.au. To contact the Noosa Mayor and Councillors, please find their information at www.noosa.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/927/contact-list-councillors.
Further information
To contact the Queensland Minister for Environment, email environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please copy our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.
Our previous Noosa 360 update on this is available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa-national-park-car-park-february-2021