Council's plan for new driver charge as Aussie tourist town being 'loved to death'
Queensland's Noosa Heads has long been a popular holiday destination, and during peak times roads such as Hastings Street on the beachfront can quite literally come to a standstill. These traffic jams have irked locals, who have pushed the council for a solution, and Noosa Shire Council has been consulting on plans to introduce a charge for those travelling in congestion-prone hotspots.
It is unclear how much the congestion fee would be or how it would be collected. However, there are suggestions that toll booths would be installed along the road where drivers would have to stop and pay, or drivers could pay via a tag in their car, most likely on weekends and school holidays to begin with.
More paid parking would also be introduced in busy areas, with lower costs for residents, and more transport infrastructure would be introduced to deter tourists from driving their cars along busy roads.
The Destination Management Plan (DMP) claimed the town is "being loved to death" and the council acknowledged that it has to step in to mitigate the issues caused by tourists, while also accommodating them.
Authorities are now urging the public to provide feedback on the DMP, and have until September to do so. If given the green like, it will be the first congestion road charge of its kind in Australia. It's proved a successful idea in cities overseas such as New York which introduced congestion pricing on certain roads in January this year.
😲 Council warns against common beach act in popular Aussie tourist town
👀 Family reveals the 'uncomfortable truth' about travelling full-time
🐊 Alarm raised after rare sighting at major Aussie tourist hotspot
Vehicle recognition technology could be introduced to help
The council has proposed introducing vehicle recognition technology on its roads to help determine whether cars are owned by locals or are simply travelling through. This would be used to ensure residents aren't copping the brunt of the proposed changes.
Professor Matthew Burke from Griffith University previously told Yahoo News that congestion charges for tourists is "not a new idea" as several towns in the UK and Europe have them. When asked if he thinks it would be appropriate for Noosa, Professor Burke said that "it's not illogical".
"[It would] free up that strip and discourage people from heading in and causing congestion to everyone else," he said.
Illegal camping continues to put pressure on beach town
While many coastal regions across the country have been grappling with illegal camping, Noosa in particular has been overrun with travellers sleeping overnight in car parks.
The issue has become so significant that the council announced $333 fines will be issued to anyone caught illegally camping along the Peregian Esplanade or at Victory Park along Lorikeet Drive. The rules were introduced on July 24, with 50 fines handed out during two weeks in the area.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Skift
8 minutes ago
- Skift
Canadians Shun U.S., Ennismore's IPO Impact, and MSC's Carbon Cuts
Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Good morning from Skift. It's Thursday, August 14. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. Canadians are continuing to shun travel to the U.S., writes Associate Editor Rashaad Jorden. The number of Canadians returning by car from the U.S. dropped 37% in July from last year, marking the seventh straight month of declines. July also saw a roughly 26% decrease in Canadians returning by air from the U.S. However, the number of Canadians returning from destinations other than the U.S. rose roughly 6%. Japan and Brazil, among other countries, have registered double-digit increases in Canadian visitors between January and June. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, Hospitality Reporter Luke Martin explains how a successful IPO for Ennismore could change how investors view lifestyle hotels. Martin writes, although Wall Street has long prioritized scale and cost efficiency, a successful IPO could elevate design, brand heat, and food-and-beverage revenue as credible sources of long-term value. If Ennismore performs well as a public company, Martin notes that would change how developers in the U.S. pick brands. However, Martin writes that if an Ennismore IPO were to stumble, that would reinforce the prevailing view that lifestyle belongs inside big hotel groups, not as a standalone business on the public markets. Finally, MSC Cruises, the third-largest cruise operator by passenger numbers, says it managed to cut greenhouse gas emissions last year. But the cruise industry still has a lot of work to reduce its massive carbon footprint, writes Climate Reporter Darin Graham. MSC Cruises highlighted in its latest climate report the tweaks and strategies that helped it cut emissions, including using AI-controlled heating and cooling systems. In addition, MSC's move to plug ships into the grid while in port enabled ships to run on electricity. However, MSC said its overall emissions will start climbing again without more transformative decarbonization solutions as its fleet grows. A report from maritime consultancy DNV warns that by 2030, the global production of carbon-neutral fuels for cruise ships won't match demand.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Drivers warned against 'brief lapses' as mobile and seatbelt cameras dish out $423 fines
Authorities have issued a reminder to Aussies that mobile and seatbelt detection cameras are in force and catching out drivers breaking the law, with motorists copping fines for "brief lapses" while driving. The renewed message comes as the AI-powered cameras have been enforcing road rules in New South Wales for over a year, with Western Australia in a trial period of similar technology before enforcement begins later this year. Leading traffic lawyer Hayder Shkara told Yahoo News that his practice has seen an "uptick in inquiries" for his legal services since enforcement began. "Drivers are shocked at the precision of the technology and what the law actually is," Hayder, principal lawyer at Justice Family Lawyers, said. He warned that he's seeing cases catch out "more than just the obvious offenders". "Many clients are being fined for brief lapses, like adjusting a GPS or changing the music," he said. "I recall one passenger who was shocked that a seatbelt had to be worn in a particular way, saying that they had been wearing it around their body for years because it was uncomfortable having it strapped across the shoulder." Authorities across the country face an uphill battle in turning the tide on dangerous driving, with nationwide road tolls the highest they've been in 15 years. In NSW, cameras have checked 140 million cars, with 99 per cent of drivers and passengers doing the right thing. But of the approximate 75,000 caught out, 88 per cent of fines were related to incorrect seatbelt use. Last year, 34 people died on NSW roads while not wearing a seatbelt. This year, another 11 lives have been lost. According to Transport NSW, wearing a seatbelt correctly doubles the chances of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of serious injury. Last month, the Minns Government called on NSW drivers to follow the law and wear their seatbelts properly 🚗 Council's plan for new driver charge as Aussie tourist town being 'loved to death' 😳 Ominous message taped to 4WD next to remote Aussie highway reveals sad reality 🙌 'Amazing' change on notorious stretch of highway as new AI camera trialled Can I get out of a mobile or seatbelt fine? In NSW, each offence attracts a $423 fine and three demerit points, or six during double demerit periods. The fine has increased from $410 since the start of the new financial year. But according to Shkara, the high-definition quality of images makes getting out of fines a "tough battle" unless there has been a genuine error or "exceptional circumstance". "In terms of contesting, success really hinges on the specifics," he explained. "That said, we've had a few wins where the images were ambiguous. "Even a momentary lapse can lead to a fine, and with seatbelt detection now part of the mix, it's worth double-checking everything before you hit the road." How do mobile and seatbelt detection cameras work? The cameras operate by capturing images of passing cars, which are reviewed by AI software. Images that show an offence, such as a seatbelt worn incorrectly, are then verified by a person. Photos that don't show an offence are permanently deleted within an hour, NSW road safety explained. Those caught breaking the law are fined. "Whether you're the driver or the passenger, make sure you've always got your seatbelt on correctly," the authority said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Gas Prices Poised To Fall Below $3 A Gallon This Summer
Long-suffering U.S. motorists are set to finally enjoy some reprieve at the pump, with indications that gas prices could decline to multi-year lows. U.S. gasoline prices appear poised to fall below $3 a gallon this summer, a level they last sank to more than four years ago, thanks to surging imports filling inventories at a time when bad weather events are dampening fuel demand. According to AAA data, the national average price of gasoline fell to 3.15 per gallon, the lowest level recorded during summer months over the past four years. Average gas prices across the country last fell below $3 a gallon in May 2021. However, many U.S. motorists are already enjoying gas prices below $3 per gallon, with GasBuddy reporting that most are paying $2.99 per gallon, with some paying as low as $2.79. Indeed, the median U.S. gas price currently stands at $2.97 per gallon. However, not everyone is smiling at the pump, with motorists in California ($4.49), Hawaii ($4.47), and Washington ($4.41) paying the highest prices for their gas. According to GasBuddy, the top 10% of stations in the country are selling a gallon of gasoline at $4.34, nearly $2 higher than the bottom 10% at $2.54 per gallon. Meanwhile, most U.S. motorists are paying $3.49 for a gallon of diesel, with the median at $3.59 per gallon. The top 10% of stations in the country are selling their diesel at $4.63 per gallon compared to an average of $3.07 per gallon for the bottom 10%.According to the latest Consumer Price Index, gasoline prices declined 8.3% Y/Y over the 52-week period ended June, with oil prices falling more than 20% amid concerns over lackluster demand and potential oversupply by OPEC+. Fuel demand fell 2.5% Y/Y in the week ended July 4, an ominous sign of waning demand in a high-demand season. Gasoline products supplied, a metric used as a proxy for fuel demand by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), averaged 9.2 million barrels a day over the past four weeks, good for a 1% Y/Y decline. Extreme heat has been blamed for the lackluster demand, with the experts saying high temperatures have discouraged driving. Summer is typically the peak driving season in the United States. But inclement weather is not solely to blame here. Improving fuel efficiency coupled with changes in driving patterns in the post-pandemic period--especially remote working--appear to have permanently depressed U.S. gasoline consumption, which is yet to eclipse its all-time high of more than 9.3 million bpd in 2018. "As we head toward August, I think gasoline will see additional weakness. The national average has a good chance of falling below $3 per gallon in September," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. Another growing problem for the oil bulls–electric vehicles. Electric vehicles (EVs) are estimated to currently displace around 3.5 million barrels of oil per day globally, with a significant portion of this displacement occurring in the United States. This displacement is driven by the increasing adoption of EVs, particularly in China, Europe, and the U.S., where they are replacing traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. While the percentage of EVs on the road in the U.S. is still relatively small compared to the overall vehicle fleet, the impact on gasoline demand is growing as EV adoption accelerates. The IEA recently published its Global EV Outlook 2025 wherein it predicted that the global EV fleet will displace more than 5 mb/d of crude by 2030, with China accounting for half of that impact. Last year, the global EV fleet hit 58 million EVs, more than triple the tally just four years ago, making up 4% of the global passenger car fleet. The EV revolution is strongest in China, where roughly 1 in 10 cars is electric. However, oil demand destruction is most rampant in Europe, where EV adoption is most aggressive. Norway has been leading the continent in EV adoption, with 88% of new cars sold in 2024 fully electric, while 3% were plug-in hybrids. Not surprisingly, Norway's oil demand fell 12% from 2021 to 2024. Norway is a major supplier of natural gas to Europe, consistently ranking as one of the top, if not the top, suppliers of gas to the European Union. According to the European Commission, Norway supplied 52.6% of the EU's natural gas imports in the first quarter of 2025. By Alex Kimani for More Top Reads From this article on
