Parking
We have provisions for regulated parking in the Whitsunday Regional Council Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2014 and Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2014.
Off-street regulated parking area maps are included in the Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2014.
To view our Local Laws, click on the link to the Local Laws page.
Click here to view the off-street regulated parking area maps(PDF, 119KB).(PDF, 119KB)
We provide a mix of on-street parking and off-street carparks within the region. Our off-street carparks provide short-term and all-day parking at varying rates.
View parking fees
Smarter Parking, Better Access – changes to parking from July 2026
We are introducing changes to parking in busy areas across the Whitsundays, creating fairer and easier access for everyone. The changes will improve parking availability and visual amenity in high-demand areas, while supporting local business.
Airlie Beach, Cannonvale Foreshore, Shingley Beach, Coral Sea Marina, Port of Airlie and Shute Harbour will see changes to parking time limits, more proactive digital monitoring and reduced infringement costs.
Free short-term on-street parking remains, with new digital monitoring designed to improve parking availability and make it easier for more residents, visitors and customers to access local businesses.
Long-term users will continue to be supported through free and paid off-street parking options, including free parking at Waterson Way Council car park, or cost-effective long-term parking permit options.
These changes also help support future parking investment as Airlie Beach and surrounding precincts continue to grow.
FAQ's
How do I apply for a parking permit within an activity precinct?
Parking permits are available for residents on-street parking and paid off-street parking. Paid off-street parking can be purchased for monthly, 6 monthly or 12-month increments, providing a more cost-effective option than daily or hourly rates. Parking permit application forms are available on our website or enquire by contacting Council on 1300 972 753.
Will changes to the parking structure impact businesses?
Free on-street parking will remain unchanged. Improved digital monitoring will increase availability of premium parking areas, making it easier for more customers to access local businesses by discouraging extended stays in high-demand spaces. Affordable paid off-street parking remains available across key precincts, alongside free long-term options such as Council’s Waterson Way car park, located less than five minutes’ walk from Airlie Beach Main Street.
How will parking infringements work under the new parking structure?
Council will now use digital monitoring throughout high-activity precincts to capture number plates and identify length of stay or parking breaches. Rather than infringements being placed on windscreens, notices will be issued directly to the registered vehicle owner by mail. During the transition, warning notices will be issued by mail to build community awareness before full implementation begins in July 2026.
Will moving my vehicle restart the parking time limit?
No. On street parking time limits apply across the entire signed parking area or street, not just an individual parking bay. Moving your vehicle to another space within the same street or precinct does not reset your allowed parking time. To avoid an overstay, drivers should move to a different precinct or long-term parking area where appropriate. Similarly for paid off-street parking, if you have time left on your stay, you can move to another off-street car park in the precinct without having to purchase more time.
How do I dispute a parking infringement?
If you believe a parking infringement has been issued unfairly, you may request a review by lodging a written dispute with Council within 28 days of the infringement date. Council also provides options to pay the fine, apply for instalments (for eligible fines), elect for a court hearing, or lodge a statutory declaration where applicable. Disputes can be submitted by mail or email using Council’s infringement review process. Full details and application forms are available through Council’s website or contact our customer service team on 1300 972 753.
What future parking investments are proposed?
Within the recently adopted Airlie Beach Master Plan, Council has identified major future investment in transforming the Council-owned Waterson Way site into a multi-storey car park, alongside improved pedestrian access to Main Street via a new Airlie Creek pedestrian connection. In the short term, Council plans to seal and line-mark the existing Waterson Way car park to optimise capacity, while also improving pedestrian links to Main Street. Located less than five minutes’ walk away, this site is well positioned to support growing and free long-term parking demand.
For more details, download our Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 602KB) and Factsheet(PDF, 717KB).(PDF, 717KB)
Parking made easy in Airlie Beach
We have upgraded our parking machines in all paid parking areas in Airlie Beach. The new machines are ticketless and will accept coin or card, or you can download the free EasyPark app to pay online.
Download the free EasyPark app today
Simply create your free account, find your carpark, enter your rego and pay through the app. The EasyPark app will save you time and money, allowing you to add more time or stop your parking as needed and pay your fee easily. No more running to catch the ferry or rushing back to the car after dinner!
Benefits of using the EasyPark app:
- Pay electronically through the app, no coins or card needed
- No parking ticket needed
- Opt to receive receipts which are stored in your EasyPark account on the app
- Receive an SMS reminder 15 minutes before your parking time expires
- Purchase additional parking without needing to return to your vehicle
- Register more than one vehicle to your EasyPark account
Don’t have a smartphone? EasyPark customer service can help you park on 1300 734 070.
For all payments you will need to enter your vehicle rego on arrival. You can opt to receive your receipt in your EasyPark account, or you can record the URL which appears on the machine’s display once you have paid. There is only one machine for each carpark.
Download our Airlie Beach Parking Map(PDF, 381KB) for more info.
Dispute a fine or infringement
The following options are available for 28 days from the date of infringement and apply to Council issued infringements. These are displayed on the back of the infringement notices.
Option 1: Pay in full
Option 2: Apply to pay by instalments (offences of $200 or over)
Option 3: Elect to have a court hearing
Option 4: Lodge a Statutory Declaration (for vehicle related offences)
Parking fines are a way of ensuring safety and provide a deterrent for people to misuse parking facilities however you can dispute a fine if you believe it is unjustified by making a written submission accompanied by a statement of the grounds on which the review of the decision should be granted.
Any dispute regarding infringements is required to be in writing within 28 days of the issue of the infringement and must include:
- Infringement Notice No.
- return address (in order that Council can forward the determination of your request)
Disputes can be sent to us via one of the following methods:
By mail to:
Whitsunday Regional Council,
PO Box 104, Proserpine,
QLD 4800
Email to info@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au
Fax to 07 4945 0222
Forms
Application to Waive Parking Infringement Notice(PDF, 269KB)
Application to Pay Infringements by Instalments(PDF, 334KB)