Resident's final jab as neighbourhood boat dispute intensifies

An ugly neighbourhood dispute over a resident's right to park their boat on the street has seemingly drawn to a close, with the vessel's owner conceding that, after immense pressure from locals, it will be "moved in the next few days".

Last week, Yahoo News Australia reported that a silent feud had broken out among residents in the affluent suburb of Freshwater, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, over whether or not people should be able to park their boats kerbside. While in the area a number of privately owned boats can be seen dotting the streets, one local was singled out by vandals.

Bitter dispute erupts

The words "f**k it off" were sprayed in bright red paint over the tarp covering the vessel, apparently by somebody fed up with the lack of parking in the area. Though boats do take up considerably more space along the road, the owner said they're within their rights to leave it there.

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Hitting back at the "message", the owner explained that they had legally obtained a permit to park it there. "The boat and trailer are registered and we can thus park it legally in the street," they wrote in a response letter, which they taped to the boat.

"We live in the street and haven't just parked it here as it looks like a quiet spot. I have tried to be thoughtful ... Hope you can understand and not graffiti or damage our family boat".

But it didn't end there.

A person, that may or may not have been the original vandal, responded to the letter with their own.

"If you do live in the street, park your boat on your drive, or out the front of your house," the note read.

"Be a good neighbour, and not just someone who moved here recently."

Understandably tired of the drama, the boat's owner then posted another — and presumably the last — letter to the community. It read: "The boat will be moved in the next few days, please do not damage it or graffiti it".

In smaller text below, a footnote took one final jab at neighbours' complaints.

"Noting that the other boats and trailers in the streets have not been graffitied — and the BMW that never moves."

Boat owner acted lawfully, but residents disagree

In NSW it is legal for boat trailers to be stationed on the street in one spot for up to 28 days. The boat needs to be moved after that time and its new location needs to be "at least as far as a different block section of the same street", according to local guidelines.

Despite the legalities, which were pointed out online, many were quick to share how "annoying" it was having to compete for parking with neighbours' boat trailers as well as their cars.

What do you think?

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