Randwick City Council slammed by locals over ‘cash grab’ paid parking plan for popular beaches
Angry locals have begun opposing Sydney council’s plan to introduce paid parking for visitors at some of the area’s most popular beaches.
Randwick City Council’s controversial proposal would result in metered parking being installed along multiple beaches, including Coogee, Maroubra, La Perouse and Little Bay beaches.
Prices have not yet been set but in an information booklet on the proposal the council compares parking charges at Manly Beach ($10 per hour), Bondi Beach ($11.60 per hour) and equivalent parking charges at Coogee in the summer ($5.50).
The council is relying on parking studies carried out in the summer of 2023, which found every space on the beach was “at or near capacity”.
“As an example, Coogee Beach’s 1,781 parking spaces average an 88% occupancy rate on summer weekends,” the information pack continues.
“This means 4700 vehicles staying for an average of 203 minutes per day.
“This means thousands of cars are driving around looking for parking.
The counseling period will expire this week.
Locals are already outraged by the plan; he sees this as nothing more than a “cash grab” and a “sales pitch.”
Speaking on A Current Affair on Monday, Coogee Courtyard owner Dave Martin said he feared metered parking would alienate customers.
“This is really another kick in the gut,” he told the programme.
“There is a fee to park just to have a coffee.
“This will stop people from coming here. It will hurt us.”
Maroubra resident Jay Merten also voiced his displeasure with the plan, particularly the council’s offer of a single free parking permit per household.
“With a 13- and 15-year-old kid, we can have several cars in a few years,” Merten said.
“There will be more cars looking for less space.”
But City of Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker defended the proposal, saying it would encourage “further change” of areas and allow more people to access the beach.
Mr Parker previously released a video in March explaining the rationale behind the proposal, including how revenue from paid visitor parking would be reinvested in providing beach services, funding coastal infrastructure and supporting sustainable transport.
“Currently local people pay 100 per cent of the costs of managing our coastline,” he told A Current Affair.
Mr Parker said the council spent $23.5 million each year maintaining beachside areas; This reflected the claim in his first video.
