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NOOSA HEADS LIONS PARK PROPOSED EASTER 2026 USAGE FOR TEMPORARY CARPARK

Director Infrastructure Services, Shaun Walsh · Infrastructure Services Department

Executive summary

• In previous years over the Easter holiday period, an area within the Noosa Heads Lions Park has been used for overflow paid parking, operated by the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club. • The decision to permit this use in 2026 was deferred by Council as part of a previous decision in 2025, pending further consideration under the Destination Management Plan (DMP). • In 2026, all states have coinciding holiday periods, and significant visitor numbers are anticipated over the Easter period. • Previous use of the overflow parking has produced mixed observations: while it increases capacity in a constrained precinct, there are concerns that the carpark entry location may contribute to precinct congestion. • This report proposes a practical trial over the two-week Easter holiday period to compare the impacts of providing overflow paid parking versus not providing it. • It is proposed that paid overflow parking operate in Noosa Heads Lions Park over the four Easter days (3-6 April), with the site otherwise unavailable for parking during the surrounding period. • If approved, the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club would manage the paid parking component from 3-6 April. • Supporting activities would include traffic counts, pop-up surveys to capture community and visitor feedback, and enhanced pedestrian wayfinding signage to assess variations between the two periods. • The report outlines the relevant operational, financial and statutory considerations associated with the use of the site and notes that current information, particularly regarding traffic impacts and overall benefits, is incomplete, and with the proposed trial intended to generate data required to inform a longer-term position.

Recommendation

That Council:

  1. Note the report by the Director Infrastructure Services to the Ordinary Meeting dated 19 March 2026 regarding the operation of temporary paid parking at Noosa Heads Lions Park.
  2. Endorse the temporary operation of Lions Park as an overflow parking facility during the Easter holiday period from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026.
  3. Endorse the implementation of a monitored operational trial during the Easter period to assess traffic impacts, transport network performance, visitor behaviour, and community sentiment associated with the use of the site.
  4. Note that the outcomes of the Easter monitoring and trials will be reported to Council as part of the Go Noosa End-of-Year Report (May 2026) to inform Council’s future consideration of the role of Lions Park in managing visitor parking and transport demand in the Noosa Heads precinct.

Report

Christmas 2025/26 Paid parking operated at Noosa Heads Lions Park on 20-21 December 2025, from 26 December

to 11 January 2026, and from 24-26 January 2026. Operations were not impacted by wet weather and were delivered in accordance with an approved Traffic Management Plan. All parking supervisors completed Council-provided Event Traffic Marshall training, consistent with Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) requirements. During the 2025/26 Christmas peak period, the overflow car parking area accommodated 5,908 vehicles and generated significant revenue, to be distributed via donations to various community organisations. A detailed report on income and distribution will be provided as part of the annual Go Noosa report scheduled for May 2026. Under the agreement with the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club, Council received a lump sum payment (specific to the Christmas period) to fund any rectification works required for the grassed area and surrounding assets impacted by the use. Favourable dry conditions over Christmas and January resulted in minimal damage, and the payment is sufficient to cover the anticipated works, which are scheduled to occur after the Easter period due to existing commitments. The Tewantin Noosa Lions Club has provided an update on its distribution of funds to date, supporting approximately 40 different causes and organisations, with a predominant focus on the local community. The Club has approached Council seeking approval to again operate over the Easter 2026 holiday period and are willing to operate the parking area over the four days of Easter (3-6 April), subject to approval through this report.

Key Issues Traffic management Traffic congestion at Noosa Parade is a significant issue during peak holiday periods. This trial seeks to understand whether the provision of the additional parking actually alleviates or contributes to the congestion given all of the other limitations the road network in the precinct has to accommodate. Previous traffic modelling indicates that the Lions Park carpark may contribute to congestion at the Noosa Parade/Lions Park intersection. This is supported by traffic data showing that traffic volumes at the intersection are approximately 40% higher when the Lions Park carpark is operational. It should be noted that this increase coincides with the busiest holiday periods experienced in the precinct. The data also shows that approximately 25–31% of traffic using this intersection during peak periods enter the carpark. Queues for the Lions Park carpark often extend onto the single westbound lane on Noosa Parade, blocking traffic seeking to continue through or turn right at the intersection. Public transport services, including both Go Noosa and Translink buses, are regularly delayed by queuing vehicles and pedestrian activity associated with the Lins Park carpark entry. This affects service reliability and undermines the customer experience during peak visitor periods. It should be noted that the overflow carpark has operated during peak holiday seasons for many years, and no comparative data exists to assess traffic performance in its absence. This trial is intended to address that gap through a practical assessment. Public Safety and Recreational Access It is noted that the overflow area is located adjacent to public toilets, picnic areas and pedestrian crossings, increasing the potential for conflict between vehicles and families with children. The operation of the overflow carpark also reduces availability of recreational green space for residents and visitors during these periods. Infrastructure impacts and costs borne by Council Infrastructure impacts were recorded during Christmas operations, including damage to the underground irrigation system. Fortunately, due to lack of rainfall over the period of use, surface impacts were not substantial. Council has other direct costs associated with the use of the space including contributions toward Variable Message Sign hire, traffic control, marketing and promotional materials, temporary fencing and additional cleaning, as well as staff time to manage the operating arrangements. It is proposed that operational costs associated with operating Lions Park as carpark for the four days over Easter can be accommodated in existing budgets and the payment received for the Christmas and January holiday period. Land Act and usage of Lions Park Regarding the proposed use of Lions Park for paid parking over Easter and the recent amendments to the Land Act 1994, the following is noted: • Council, as trustee, may authorise uses that are inconsistent with the reserve's purpose where a Management Plan demonstrates that the temporary use will not diminish the recreational purpose of the land or adversely impact the public interest. • These decisions now rest entirely with Council, with no Ministerial approval required. The advice recommends formalising all inconsistent uses through a Trustee Land Management Plan (Land Plan). • There is an established precedent for temporary, holiday-period parking at Lions Park. On this basis, Council may choose to endorse the proposed Easter parking arrangements, noting that: The temporary use does not result in any permanent alteration to the reserve. o The arrangement supports transport, access, and event-management requirements during o peak periods. The arrangement is consistent with previously endorsed operational practice for similar o holiday-period demand. Community Benefit under the Destination Management Plan (DMP) The DMP three-year Implementation Plan identifies the optimisation of parking and traffic management as a priority but emphasises that public open space should be preserved for recreational use unless a clear, overriding community benefit can be demonstrated.

Interim Approach Easter 2026 As a formal Council resolution on the long-term use of Lions Park for peak-period paid parking has not yet been made, an interim operational approach is proposed for the 2026 Easter holiday period. Under this approach, Lions Park would be opened for temporary parking from Friday, 3 April to Monday, 6 April 2026, over the Easter long weekend. The interim approach will incorporate a range of community engagement activities and traffic surveys. These measures will allow Council to gather additional operational and behavioural data, as well as community feedback, to inform future decision-making regarding the site. Traffic and Transport Monitoring • A targeted traffic management investigation will be conducted to assess congestion impacts at the Noosa Parade/Lions Park intersection, comparing periods when the carpark is in use with periods of non-use over the two-week period. • Parking surveys to actively monitor operations, including arrival patterns, dwell times, and demand levels, are scheduled for Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March, and Easter Saturday

and Sunday 5 April.

Community Engagement • On-site surveys will be used to understand how visitors and residents use the carpark, including travel modes, parking behaviour, and overall transport experience. • Engagement with local businesses, residents, and visitors will be undertaken to gather feedback on the operation of the site and broader transport conditions in Noosa Heads. Other Operational Trials • Pedestrian management trials will be implemented, including alternative directional guidance and temporary pedestrian barrier arrangements at key intersections, to better separate vehicle and pedestrian movements as part of ongoing testing and improvement.

Contracted Arrangements with Tewantin Noosa Lions Club It is proposed that Council waive its share of revenue over the four-day period to ensure the financial viability of the Lions Club, noting that the interim approach during this portion of the two-week school holiday provides an opportunity to gather valuable information. Council will not be responsible for any wet weather fees or compensation incurred during this period.

Final Report The findings from the Easter monitoring and trials will be included in the Go Noosa End-of-Year Report, scheduled for May 2026. The report will provide Council staff with sufficient information to recommend a long-term position on the use of Lions Park for peak-period overflow car parking, taking into account the long-term objectives of the DMP and Council’s obligations under the Land Act.

Report details

Index: ECM/TRANSPORT/Car Parking
ECM/TRANSPORT/Go Noosa