GO NOOSA TRANSPORT INITIATIVES 2023/24 EVALUATION AND 2024/25 IMPLEMENTATION · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                           12 AUGUST 2024


   •   Perceived loss of business for restaurants.
   •   Underutilised.

The name People’s Park particularly conjured up negative connotations due to the need for a park
to cater for tourists, and giving the park back to the people, when the many respondents are
seeking more parking.

Themes from respondents for or undecided about the park included:
   • Liked the reduction of cars and the usual chaos, reduced road rage, made the area feel more
     relaxed.
   •   Don’t give up on the concept, refreshing to see the space reclaimed for pedestrians, ignore
       the negative.
   •   Take it a step further and close Hastings St.
   •   Loved that they could drop of boards and beach gear close to the beach.
   •   Would have normally gone home after the beach, but the shade and tables allowed them to
       have takeaway in the area.
   •   Safer for pedestrians on the ramp, it made the entry roundabout and footpath less congested
       and more pleasant to traverse.
   •   Make it permanent, permanent drop off zone in the car park, permanent increase in scooter
       and e-bike parking.
   •   Great to see locals opting to ride scooters and e-bikes.
   •   Liked the concept but...
        o Did not like the music
        o Needs to be executed better, underwhelming, e.g. more visually pleasing, more plants
        o Underutilised in the morning
        o Add additional toilets
        o More disability parking bays.

More recently A petition containing 1,022 e-signatures and 18 physical signatures was presented to
Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 18 July 2024 titled, Return the People's Park to a Carpark. The
petitioner stated:

“We express our opposition to the “People’s Park” on Hastings St and call on Noosa Council to
immediately abandon this absurd project and return the location to a dedicated carpark. The project
has seen the loss of 40 valued carparks in a location they are most required, made worse by the
timing with the peak holiday period.”

Staff acknowledge this feedback and will seek further clarification on the dates and locality of
signatories. It is noted that the petition also evolved to cover the removal of other existing car parks
around Noosa Shire in response to the Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Masterplan, and has
been provided as a change.org snapshot without residential data.

8.4 Traffic Circulation

Following discussions with Hastings Street stakeholders it is considered that the trial was a success
in improving traffic circulation in Hastings Street, particularly removal of obstructions in traffic
travelling to Little Cove / Noosa National Park.

8.5 Surf Safety