Randwick City Council Scales Back Coastal Parking Plan After Community Uproar
The revised plan reduces the number of metered spaces from 3,300 to just 1,409 and abandons paid parking at Yarra Bay entirely.
Randwick City Council has significantly revised its coastal parking proposal, reducing the number of planned paid parking spaces and introducing new exemptions. The changes come after the council received feedback from over 12,000 residents, business owners, and community groups.
Key Changes to the Plan
The revised plan cuts the number of metered spaces from an initial 3,300 to 1,409 across six beaches. The proposed metered spaces per beach are:
- Maroubra: 544
- La Perouse: 292
- Clovelly: 250
- Coogee: 208
- Malabar: 75
- Little Bay: 40
The original proposal included Yarra Bay, but paid parking there has been abandoned. Meters will now be mostly restricted to council-owned beach car parks, avoiding many residential streets and shopping strips.
Pricing and Operating Times
The proposed parking fees are set at $5.70 per hour in summer and $4.70 per hour in winter. Paid parking would operate daily from 8am to 6pm with a maximum stay of four hours.
The council stated that these rates are lower than at other Sydney beaches, where rates can reach up to $11.60 per hour.
Exemptions and Permits
Exemptions have been introduced for surf clubs and junior Nippers programs. The residential parking permit system has been expanded, allowing eligible households permits for each registered vehicle. Some free parking areas adjacent to beaches will be retained.
Revenue and Costs
The original proposal included 3,300 metered spaces and was expected to generate approximately $9 million annually. The revised scheme is forecast to generate between $3 million and $3.6 million per year.
The council aims to fund the $23.5 million annual cost of maintaining beaches and surf lifesaving services. Mayor Dylan Parker stated that the scheme asks visitors to contribute to beach upkeep. The council noted that it allocates over $23 million annually for beach maintenance and services, such as rubbish collection and lifeguard operations, which are currently funded entirely by local ratepayers.
Nearly 84 percent of the approximately nine million annual visits to Randwick's beaches originate from outside the local LGA.
If implemented, revenue from paid parking would be directed towards beach services, coastal infrastructure, and sustainable transport initiatives.
Timeline and Implementation
Councillors will vote on the scheme next week. If approved, it will begin with a trial at Little Bay, then expand to Coogee, Maroubra, Clovelly, and La Perouse over 12 months.
Criticisms
Critics have expressed concerns about undermining free access to beaches and have described the proposal as a revenue-raising exercise.