By Tyler Waugh / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove council will erect signage advising visitors there is no overnight parking allowed at the scenic viewpoint lookout in response to an increasing number of campers on site.
The Town’s chief administrative officer, Mandy Dinn, brought it to council’s attention at the June 29 public meeting that the lookout has regularly been full of overnight camping traffic. She noted that overnight camping was not the intended use for the scenic viewpoint, adding that campers hamper safe daytrip visits.
“The purpose of the lookout was for getting cars to pull in safely off the road rather than being lined up and getting pictures at the side of the road,” Dinn said, adding the spot has even been mentioned on a camping-related page on Facebook.
“I did notice this morning, actually when I drove past, four campers lined up in a row,” she said. “It was virtually impossible for a car to pull in safely.”
Councillor Nancy Bungay said that right now nobody can use the space to stop and enjoy the view. She suggested the Town put up signs informing campers that there is no overnight parking at that location, similar to other spots in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove and other communities across the province.
“There’s been six campers in there over the weekend, every single night and every single day of the week now,” Bungay said.
Mayor Ed Dyke cautioned that if you are going to make a rule, you need to be able to enforce it.
However, council agreed that signage should discourage overnight camping among those who respect the rules.
Council then passed a motion to install the warning signs.
