New parking system for Waverley

Later this month Waverley Council will vote on a review of parking in the area that will see a 50 cent increase on most parking meters.

The changes would also introduce a $25 annual fee for residential parking stickers, now free, and a $100 yearly fee for second vehicles.

But some meters will be cheaper: for instance, it will cost less to park in Elizabeth Drive behind the Bondi Pavilion. And parking in business areas will be cheaper than in residential areas to encourage trade and relieve residents.

Mayor Sally Betts described the review as an extremely thorough examination of public parking that will help make parking in Waverley fairer.

“A lot of thought and hard work has been put into this review. It’s a culmination of six months’ work by a committee consisting of technical experts, representatives of all political parties plus our independent councillor,” Councillor Betts said.

“We looked at the overall system of both on and off-street parking and assessed hundreds of suggested actions against 14 different criteria including the management of demand, practicality, equity, budget impact and environmental sustainability. It was an excellent methodology to help us sort through some very difficult issues.

She said the review’s recommendations, if adopted, would increase parking, reduce risk for parking officers and benefit local businesses.

“Parking is like gold dust. We have millions of visitors coming to Waverley each year, many by car, and there is often fierce competition for limited car spaces, particularly during summer,” the mayor said.

“It is quite concerning that car ownership is accelerating much faster in Waverley than other areas of Sydney. We wanted to strike the right balance but ultimately we are determined to protect our residents and help them park as close to their homes as possible.”

The council will distribute information in affected areas as changes are made.