General News
19 July, 2026
New parking limits in town
PARKING will be limited to 15 minutes rather than the current two hours outside two key shopping stops along Cardwell’s Victoria Street (Bruce Highway).
Cassowary Coast Regional Council approved an internal proposal to introduce the much shorter parking times at its June general meeting.
Also under the changes, trucks will not be allowed to park overnight in the same zones in order to cut noise affecting some residents.
Four spaces in the two-hour zone outside the post office will be turned into 15-minutes parking only, while new signs will also soon be installed on Victoria Street outside Cardwell Butchery, introducing two 15-minute parking bays.
“Current two-hour parking does not provide sufficient changeover,” a report by council staff to the meeting said.
“Many post office customers come and go quickly. Pathology users include elderly and mobility-challenged residents. Some people park for a long time, taking up these valuable spaces,” it said.
“Multiple requests have been received for timed parking. The owner of the butcher shop advises he has customers unable to park out the front because caravans sometimes park there for extended periods.”
Signs saying ‘No overnight parking, no trucks’ are expected to be installed along the extent of the parking section from Liverpool Street to St Albans Street, as well as along the section from Liverpool Street to Brasenose Street.
“Truck parking late night and overnight disturbs sleeping residents,” the council report said.
“Some trucks lawfully park but run their compressors.”
Truck double parking on the highway will be monitored by council north of Parker Street, where “a resident indicated trucks sometimes double-park in the wide verges and idle for extended periods,” as will parking generally at the Cardwell (Port Hinchinbrook) boat ramp.
During a short debate on the parking changes, Cr Trudy Tschui raised the issue of ensuring the public is given notice of the changes via social media and other publicity.
“We don’t want people saying, ‘it’s been like this forever, I didn’t know’. Just drive in, some people don’t even look, they just do what they’ve always done,” Cr Tschui told the meeting.
“I think, to be fair to the public, we need to raise the awareness.”
Mayor Teresa Millwood said the changes were not about targeting any particular drivers.
“We’re not trying to chase the truck drivers away either. There is plenty of other parking available in other areas for that particular use,” she said.
There is no fixed date yet for when the new parking signs will be installed but council says it expects to let the public know with plenty of warning.
“Council staff do not undertake structured or scheduled compliance activity in Cardwell and the issuing of parking infringements is rare,” the report by staff said.
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