Visiting Straddie over the Easter break is about to get easier, with Council providing additional parking areas to accommodate the busy holiday period.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council would open up the temporary parking area behind the old CSIRO building at Toondah Harbour from 12-17 April, with access available through the Wharf Street carpark and via the ferry carpark.
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“We know parking is tight at the Toondah Harbour ferry terminal at the best of times but over Easter space is really at a premium, so the additional parking areas will help ease some of the pressure,” Cr Williams said.
“It won’t only help tourists heading to Straddie but also our island residents who are planning to travel to the mainland over the Easter break.”
Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell (North Stradbroke Island, Cleveland) said the temporary parking arrangement was well received during a trial over the Australia Day long weekend.
“We are always looking for ways to make it easier for residents to get around the city and, although this is only a temporary solution, the trial over the Australia Day long-weekend showed it is very popular with commuters,” he said.
“Straddie is naturally very popular with holiday makers over Easter, so I am confident these extra parking areas will again be well received and help to reduce stress for those looking for a car park.’’
The move follows the free inner-city bus trialled by Council over Christmas, organised to ease parking pressure from busy areas such as Toondah Harbour and Redland Bay’s Weinam Creek.
Cr Williams said the need for more parking at Toondah Harbour showed the importance of the Walker Group’s $1.3 billion upgrade of the popular ferry terminal.
“The Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area project will boost parking significantly at no cost to ratepayers. These extra car parks will drive tourism to the island and, with it, economic activity across the city,” she said.
“While we wait for the Federal Government to approve the Toondah Harbour upgrade, we will continue to look for other solutions to the area’s parking constraints such as this temporary parking.”
