"Locals Only!" Says The 20% Of Coastal Town Population Who Don't Realise Tourism Is All They've Got

SANDY FRASER | Youth | CONTACT

Residents of Australia’s busiest East Coast holiday towns are banding together to ensure their parking rights aren't jeopardised by the yearly school holiday crowds.  

The coalition is composed of citizens from Airlie Beach, Noosa Heads, Byron Bay, and Jervis Bay. 

Ken Hatfield, a Byron Bay resident of 55 years, says the alliance is an obvious solution to the overwhelming tourist numbers each town has been experiencing. 

“Why would we want to waste a bunch of money on making the public transport systems better? None of the locals use it anyway,” he said. 

“This way, we’re the ones kept happy, which is what really matters, because ultimately the tourists will keep coming either way,”

The proposed ‘locals only’ permits will grant citizens an effective ‘veto power’, where holders can call the council to have rental cars towed from spaces along main streets. 

Permit holders will also be exempt from time-restricted parking. 

Currently, there is no cap on the number of permits granted per household. 

Noosa Heads local Finn Murphy says the proposed changes are long overdue. 

“I mean, I’ve got some spots that I call ‘locals only’, but to have something official will be pretty awesome,” he said. 

“And if the tourists don’t like it, they can just get lost, ha ha ha,”

Finn operates a smoothie cart which survives off its summer profits all year round. 

However, he says he’s most looking forward to not sharing waves with ‘kooks’. 

More to come.