General News
30 August, 2026
Deal reached over parking
A COMPROMISE has been reached over new parking time limits at Cardwell.
A recent decision by Cassowary Coast Regional Council to introduce strict 15-minute parking zones along Victoria Street (Bruce Highway) sparked strong pushback in Cardwell.
Local residents with mobility issues and business owners affected by the changes warned the move will threaten access for vulnerable shoppers and risk hurting the town’s tourism economy.
Council voted at its June general meeting to convert four two-hour bays outside the Post Office and pathology service, as well as two bays near Cardwell Butchery, into much shorter-term 15-minute parks.
Council officers argued the move would prevent long stays, stop caravans taking up main-street parks and speed up turnover for quick visits.
However, local resident Julia Hirning has met Mayor Teresa Millwood and chief executive officer Andrew Graffen to advocate for a pragmatic middle ground.
“We agreed on a compromise,” Ms Hirning said, outlining a revised proposal featuring one 30-minute bay outside Cardwell Butchery and two 30-minute bays outside the post office.
The discussion also tackled broader highway safety concerns along the Bruce Highway strip.
Cr Millwood agreed to approach the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) regarding the installation of pedestrian crossings or flashing warning lights near Brasenose Street and the local service station.
While any highway alterations remain subject to TMR planning approval, Ms Hirning noted positive local feedback.
“If this is approved, I believe it will be good,” she said.
Ms Hirning said the 15-minute limits ignored the daily reality of elderly residents navigating the busy Victoria Street (Bruce Highway) corridor.
“I will celebrate turning 72 early next month and I have a number of medical conditions, including osteoarthritis and osteoporosis,” Ms Hirning wrote to The Observer after first finding out about the parking changes from an article in the newspaper.
“So, I feel I totally fit into the category of ‘elderly’ and ‘mobility challenged’... I get extremely angry and frustrated when I read this.”
Ms Hirning highlighted the physical stress of completing errands under a tight limit when using a mobility aid alongside heavy highway traffic.
“Depending on the time of day, those parks can be heavy,” she said. “The first thing I do is check the rearview mirror to see what traffic’s coming up the street before I even open the door. If you’ve got three semis coming down, you wait.
“I have to get my wheelie walker out ... negotiate steps and coming back out, you go through the same thing again.”
She added that standing by an open door on the road shoulder to load a walker makes a 15-minute turnaround nearly impossible.
Ms Hirning also pointed to health risks following blood tests at the pathology room.
“What if you come out and feel a bit dizzy? Are you supposed to just jump in your car and drive off because you’ve got a 15-minute park?”
Local business owner Robyn Smith also voiced frustration over the lack of public consultation, noting the time limits will penalise most traders in the shopping strip.
“The council have taken away two bays from the six out of eight businesses that need and require longer term parking,” Ms Smith said.
“My customers take longer than 15 minutes to get through the shop. More than 15 minutes to have lunch at the cafes. More than 15 minutes to get their hair done.”
Ms Smith also questioned why long-standing tourism traffic during peak season was being treated as a problem requiring strict enforcement.
“We want the caravans to stop and spend money in our town,” she said.
“For six to eight weeks of the year, there may be a bit of congestion ... but that’s when our business sector relies on tourists and visitors stopping. By putting in 15 minutes, they have actually taken away bays from our area.”
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