New regulations on parking boat trailers in streets of Sutherland Shire, which start tomorrow (July 1), have been slightly relaxed since the original proposal.
Owners or users will be able to park a trailer immediately in front of their property indefinitely unless it is causing an obstruction or safety issue.
If those conditions are not met, the trailer will have to be moved to a different block at least every 28 days.
Officers will begin enforcing Section 15A of the Impounding Act 1993 on July 1.
The council says it has developed clear guidelines on circumstances where action will be taken.
“If a boat trailer is causing an obstruction or safety issue to traffic (vehicular or pedestrian) or is likely to be a danger to the public then it may be impounded immediately,” the council says.
“Council will be reactive and will only monitor boat trailers in residential or other built up areas if they have been reported to council in contravention of the new law.”
The guidelines state action may be taken to remove unattended boat trailers parked longer that 28 days, which are:
- Not being parked in the immediate vicinity of the home of the boat owner or user.
- Having impacts on limited parking in high density areas such as multi-storey unit dwellings.
- Being left unattended in and around waterways or boat ramps.
- Being left in an unsightly state of disrepair or neglect.
- A heavy or long vehicle.
The council defines “immediate vicinity” as the area of road between the property boundaries of the owner or user, and the trailer must be parked wholly within this area.
If the council officer considers a trailer to have been left in a state of disrepair or neglect, then the officer may refuse to offer a concession and may determine that it must be moved or repaired.
Summing up, the council says, “If you cannot park your boat trailer in the immediate vicinity of your property or on private property, you will need to move your boat trailer every 28 days at least as far as a different block section of the same street.
“If this does not happen, the boat trailer (and any boat it carries) may be impounded”.
The council says, at this stage, it will not be issuing residential parking permits for boat trailers.
