The NSW Government has acted on the concerns of residents from a part of Sydney CBD over backpackers who are clogging their streets for long periods of time while they try to sell their vans.

Local Government Minister Don Page met with community representatives of Potts Point last month to hear their frustrations over the number of tourists who are using residents’ on-street parking spaces as basic camping grounds, living in their parked vans until they can sell them, and using their bins and taps.

“Some of the stories I heard from the residents about their bins and taps being used, their parking spaces being taken up for long periods, and people basically living in front of their homes, was very disturbing – and they told me it gets worse in summer,” Mr Page said.

“It appears to be a unique problem because Potts Point has become known in the backpacker community as a site for selling vans, as there was once a local carpark from which these tourists could sell their vehicles, but that facility was removed.”

Mr Page today said the NSW Government would support a Private Members Bill to amend the Local Government Act to give Sydney City Council the power to erect signs prohibiting the roadside parking of vehicles that are for sale.

The amended legislation will complement Sydney City Council’s decision to reinstate a section of a local carpark as a designated park-and-sell point for backpacker vehicles, Mr Page said.

The Minister also supported the council’s decision to implement a three-month fee-free period for the park-and-sell section of the carpark, which will come into effect next month.

“It is clear to me that the residents are very distressed about the problem, which has steadily become worse in the years since the council removed the option of selling backpacker vans in local carpark spaces, and which was ignored in that time by the previous government,” Mr Page said.

“I have listened to the residents of Potts Point and will support moves that will assist them in their plight, while also helping the backpackers by ensuring the council gives them back space in a local carpark – it is important to note that these visitors would not have wanted to be a burden.”