There's nothing quite like the frustration of trying to do your job when someone else's thoughtlessness gets in the way. For tradies across Australia, this daily reality is playing out in an unlikely battleground: Bunnings car parks.
Builder Anthony discovered this firsthand last week when he rolled up to the Caringbah Bunnings with his 4WD and trailer, ready to grab supplies for a job.
Instead of the usual quick in-and-out, he found himself on an unwanted tour of the car park, circling like a vulture while smaller cars sat smugly in the spaces specifically designed for vehicles like his.
'Single vehicles parking in the designated trailer parking bays for God knows what reason,' Anthony told Yahoo News, clearly exasperated by what he calls a 'constant problem' at Bunnings stores nationwide.
With height restrictions preventing him from accessing the lower level where 'plenty' of regular spaces sat empty, Anthony was eventually forced to park his rig across three standard bays just to get his work done.
In this article
A problem that's been building for months
This isn't an isolated incident. Last November, another frustrated customer at the Cessnock store in NSW arrived to find three trailer bays occupied by regular vehicles rather than the work trucks they were designed for. 'Is it really that hard to read, big yellow letters on the ground saying trade and trailer parking,' he raged in a Facebook group.
The pattern is clear: what should be a simple courtesy is becoming a significant headache for working Australians who depend on quick access to trade supplies.
According to Bunnings' own website, these 'trade and trailer' parking bays are positioned outside timber and nursery sections specifically because they're 'longer, wider and easier to use' for tradies with larger vehicles or trailers attached. It's not just about convenience—it's about practical necessity.
'Is it really that hard to read, big yellow letters on the ground saying trade and trailer parking'
Why this matters more than you might think
For tradies, time genuinely is money. Every extra minute spent hunting for parking or manoeuvring into tight spaces is time that could be spent earning. When you're running between multiple job sites in a day, a 'quick stop' at Bunnings that turns into a parking nightmare can throw off your entire schedule.
What makes a trade and trailer bay different?
25-30 per cent longer than standard parking spaces
Wider to accommodate vehicle plus trailer combinations
Located near timber and nursery sections for easy loading
Designed for vehicles up to light commercial size
Usually marked with bright yellow lettering and symbols
The frustration goes beyond just the immediate inconvenience. When Anthony was forced to park across multiple spaces, he likely copped dirty looks from other shoppers who didn't understand why a tradie was 'hogging' parking spots—creating unnecessary tension over something that could easily be avoided.
The enforcement gap
Here's where things get tricky. Unlike disabled parking spaces, which have legal penalties for misuse, these trade parking bays exist in a grey area. They're courtesy spaces provided by Bunnings, but there's no security guard checking permits or issuing fines.
Bunnings Trade acknowledges these facilities exist to 'make it easy to pick up your supplies & materials' and help customers 'park easily with our Trailer Parking Bays', but enforcement relies entirely on shoppers doing the right thing.
Yahoo News reports that each Bunnings store handles parking issues through customer feedback and provides guidance as situations arise, but this reactive approach clearly isn't solving the problem.
What can be done?
Some solutions don't require major infrastructure changes. Better signage explaining why these spaces matter could help—not just who they're for, but why they're necessary. A simple addition like 'Helps tradies serve our community efficiently' might tap into Australians' general respect for people just trying to do their job.
New Bunnings stores, like the one recently developed in Inverell, are still including 'accessible and trailer bays' in their planning, showing the company recognises these facilities are needed. The challenge is ensuring they're used properly.
Simple parking courtesy can make a big difference
- Check if you actually need a trailer-sized space before parking
- If you see trade vehicles circling, consider moving to a regular space
- Remember these bays serve a genuine practical purpose
- A few extra steps for you could save a tradie significant time and stress
Some tradie groups have suggested Bunnings could introduce time limits for non-trailer vehicles in these bays—similar to loading zones—or even simple monitoring during peak trade hours. Others argue the solution lies in community education rather than enforcement.
The bigger picture
This parking stoush reflects something larger about how we share public spaces in Australia. It's about whether we consider how our choices affect others, especially those who are just trying to earn a living.
Anthony's call for 'a bit more common sense' from fellow shoppers isn't asking for special treatment—it's asking for basic consideration. When someone parks a small hatchback in a space designed for a ute and trailer, they're essentially saying their minor convenience matters more than a working person's ability to do their job efficiently.
The good news? This problem has a simple solution that costs nothing and takes no extra effort. Next time you're at Bunnings, take a moment to read the signs and park appropriately. If you don't have a trailer, those big yellow letters aren't just a suggestion—they're helping keep Australia's tradies working efficiently.
A call for consideration
As Bunnings continues expanding across Australia and more trade parking bays are added to new stores, this issue will only grow unless we address it through community awareness rather than waiting for enforcement measures.
The solution isn't complicated: if you don't need the extra space, don't take it. It's that simple act of consideration that keeps our tradies moving, our building projects on schedule, and our community functioning smoothly.
Have you witnessed parking courtesy wins or fails at your local Bunnings? Share your experiences and help build awareness about this surprisingly important community issue.
Primary Source
https://au.news.yahoo.com/tradie-la...ar-park-issue-constant-problem-050731423.html
Bunnings customer's fury over 'lazy' parking act sparks heated debate
Cited text: Presumably a tradie himself, the customer was furious when arriving at the Cessnock store in NSW to see three bays being used by regular vehicles, rat...
Excerpt: This isn't an isolated incident. Last November, another frustrated customer at the Cessnock store in NSW arrived to find three trailer bays occupied by regular vehicles rather than the work trucks they were designed for.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/bunnings-...rking-act-sparks-heated-debate-040157406.html
Bunnings customer's fury over 'lazy' parking act sparks heated debate
Cited text: At Bunnings, the "trade and trailer" parking bays — located outside the timber and nursery sections of many stores — are "longer, wider...
Excerpt: According to Bunnings' own website, these 'trade and trailer' parking bays are positioned outside timber and nursery sections specifically because they're 'longer, wider and easier to use' for tradies with larger vehicles or trailers…
https://au.news.yahoo.com/bunnings-...rking-act-sparks-heated-debate-040157406.html
Tradie lashes out over Bunnings car park issue: 'Constant problem'
Cited text: Builder Anthony told Yahoo News he was forced to park his 4WD and trailer across multiple spaces in the car park because smaller cars were parked in t...
Excerpt: When Anthony was forced to park across multiple spaces
https://au.news.yahoo.com/tradie-la...ar-park-issue-constant-problem-050731423.html
Bunnings customer's fury over 'lazy' parking act sparks heated debate
Cited text: It's not uncommon for major Australian stores, shopping centres and supermarkets to have allocated parking spots for various needs, including disabled...
Excerpt: Unlike disabled parking spaces, which have legal penalties for misuse, these trade parking bays exist in a grey area.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/bunnings-...rking-act-sparks-heated-debate-040157406.html
Trailer Parking Bay Stores—Bunnings Trade AU
Cited text: Bunnings Trade makes it easy to pick up your supplies & materials. Park easily with our Trailer Parking Bays at any of these convenient locations.
Excerpt: Bunnings Trade acknowledges these facilities exist to 'make it easy to pick up your supplies & materials' and help customers 'park easily with our Trailer Parking Bays'
https://trade.bunnings.com.au/campaign/trailer-parking-bay-stores
Exciting progress for Inverell’s new Bunnings development | New England Times
Cited text: • 198 parking spaces, including accessible and trailer bays, as well as dedicated service access and delivery roads.
Excerpt: New Bunnings stores, like the one recently developed in Inverell, are still including 'accessible and trailer bays' in their planning
https://www.netimes.com.au/2024/12/28/exciting-progress-for-inverells-new-bunnings-development/
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