Another boat trailer parking saga has emerged in one of Australia’s richest suburbs just days after the issue divided well-heeled locals.
Debate raged in the exclusive suburb of Mosman on Sydney’s lower north shore after a woman launched a scathing attack on a community Facebook page calling for the owner of a six-metre boat parked outside her harbourside mansion to remove it.
Laureen Ong’s post set off a chain reaction of fury among locals with hundreds of commenters divided over who was in the right – as others joked about the uproar.
The saga escalated when the boat owner, Palle Lunoe, hit back, noting his boat was legally parked and declaring that concerned locals ‘have a little too much spare time’.
The furore has prompted Mosman local Harold Scruby to renew calls for tougher laws as he shared photos of separate boat and trailer he claims has been parked in his street on and off more than 10 years.
The Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman admitted to Daily Mail Australia he has never raised any concerns because it doesn’t impact him unless he has visitors and he knows it’s not illegal for the owner to leave their boat and trailer there.
Photos have emerged of another parked boat and trailer in Mosman
Harold Scruby (pictured) has never complained about the boat and trailer in his street as the owner is within their rights
But Mr Scruby has renewed calls for the NSW government to toughen laws and issue hefty penalties to owners who leave them permanently parked in the street.
He described the issue as the ‘new epidemic’.
He says the boat and trailer takes up three parking spaces in his street.
‘It’s been there for about 10 years or more and is rarely moved,’ Mr Scruby said.
‘I’ve never complained because the owner is well within his rights to leave it there.
‘I have off-street parking so it doesn’t bother me, unless I have visitors who need to park in the street.’
Mr Scruby said it was an issue not just on the lower north shore but other parts of Sydney, including the northern beaches and in the inner-west.
Three years ago, Northern Beaches Council permanently introduced ‘No Parking – Motor Vehicles Excepted’ signs at 11 sites prohibiting the parking of boats and trailers following a six-month trial.
Mosman locals erupted last weekend after a commercial pilot parked his 6metre-long boat on the street outside a harbourside home (above). The boat has since been removed
‘Trailers being parked on residential streets in NSW cities is out of control. It’s the new epidemic,’ Mr Scruby said.
‘From a pedestrian safety perspective, because they take up an inordinate amount of motor vehicle parking space, it encourages motorists to stop and/or park illegally.’
Seven years ago, then local government minister and now Deputy Premier Paul Toole introduced laws allowing councils to impound boat trailers if parked on NSW streets for longer than 28 days.
But the laws are rarely used by councils as they are too hard to enforce.
Meanwhile, Mr Lunoe has removed his boat which was at the centre of the recent neighbourhood furore.
Originally, he had asked Ms Ong’s husband if it was blocking their driveway and, when her spouse said no, he left the boat and drove away.
Commercial pilot Palle Lunoe (above) parked his boat in front of a home that was not his for five days in the affluent neighbourhood
The parking of boats and trailers isn’t just an issue in Mosman. Pictured are bpand trailers on Sydney’s northern beaches earlier this year
But as the days progressed, Ms Ong’s frustration grew over the vessel blocking her view of traffic when she reversed out of her driveway, and then because it apparently hampered building work on her property.
‘Please move your boat! If you are the owner or know the owner I am requesting for it to be removed immediately,’ she wrote on a community page.
‘We are having construction work done on my house. It has made two huge deliveries with a crane hard to unload supplies so far.’
The post sparked outrage – with several residents slamming the owner for ditching the boat in the suburban street.
The situation escalated hours later as the boat’s owner hit back, noting his boat was legally parked and declaring that concerned locals ‘have a little too much spare time’.
Registered boat trailers can be legally parked in a residential street for up to 28 days, but the issue remains controversial among Mosman locals.
Earlier this month, Mosman Council resolved to impose four-hour limits on nine parking spaces in Mosman Bay to address boat trailer parking in the area.
ATO data recently released by Canstar listed Mosman as the sixth wealthiest suburb in the country.
Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby is calling for tougher laws on boat trailers. Pictured is a boat and trailer parked in Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches
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