The council said it would trial for two months a 10pm-to-4am no-parking zone along Claude Batten Drive starting August 28, with an initial two-week transition period to allow the community time to adapt to the changes.

Claude Batten Drive runs from the end of Hastings St into the parkland and on to the spit.

The council said that while everyone loved a cheap holiday, the number of travellers in vans setting up camp in its carparks, streets and public areas had become too great an impact and it had to step in.”

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said the trial responded to a surge in complaints from the community about travellers in vans camping illegally overnight.

She said the council had already received more than 400 complaints about the practice this year while last year there had been 434 complaints.

More than 50 infringements were issued in one night recently.

Director of development and regulation Richard MacGillivray said council had increased patrols all over the shire but Noosa Woods – particularly the carparks at Noosa Spit – are a major hotspot with lots of campervans full of travellers flocking to the area at night.

“With campers getting together, drinking and getting rowdy there are safety issues for the public and our Local Laws Officers, as well as the impact of the mess and food waste being left behind, which poses a threat to our native flora and fauna,” he said.

“The vans are monopolising parking spaces into the morning so others can’t park there, and our natural areas are even being used as toilets.”

MacGillivray said council would keep up illegal camping patrols and enforcement across the shire to ensure travellers don’t disperse to other public areas.

“If trialling the no-parking zone proves effective we can look to adopt similar arrangements in other areas,” he said

To minimise the impact on workers and Hastings Street visitors at night, the first two carparks at the Hastings Street end of Claude Batten Drive are excluded from the overnight no-parking zone.

“Local Laws officers will increase nighttime patrols of these two carparks to ensure they’re not used by campers moved on from the Spit,” MacGillivray said.

Trial of the no-parking zone follows recent joint operations between Council and Queensland Police targeting large groups of illegal campers.

“Public carparks and streets aren’t camping areas, they’re not set up with appropriate cooking and shower facilities and the community is tired of them being used this way, especially when Noosa is well serviced for camping facilities well equipped to accommodate vans.”

Mr MacGillivray said people in genuine need due to rental and housing issues who may be living in cars are not the target.

“In fact, our staff are trained to assist people in need with referrals to services that may be able to support them to find accommodation.”