Parking Review Brings About Positive Changes

By Marcus Braid on May 1, 2015 in News

Waverley Council has used its recently completed review of local parking measures to introduce free parking after 7pm in some Bondi Junction streets.

It is hoped the measure will help reinvigorate after dark business at the Junction.

“There are some streets in Bondi Junction where our research shows they’re just not very busy at night, and we want lively and bustling streets,” Director of Waverley Life, Cathy Henderson said.

“We’re introducing free parking after 7pm in certain Bondi Junction streets. There’s a street (Grafton Street) in Bondi Junction that is particularly underused on Sundays, so there will be free parking on Sundays there all year round.”

A working group comprised of councillors and Council staff has met over the past six months and analysed data in an effort to improve parking measures.

“What was driving the review very much was that in the world of parking you want turnover in commercial areas and vibrant shopping strips by having parking spaces,” Ms Henderson said.

“It’s obvious, but if you had free unlimited parking in commercial shopping strips, what would happen is people would park there all day.
“Another thing Waverley Council was trying to do was aimed at the whole parking system in Waverley, and that was to check that we have some things in place to try and encourage people to park in shopping strips and not in residential areas.”

Council will introduce two hours free parking at the Waverley Library car park and Mill Hill Community and Senior Centre for library patrons (previously 1.5 hours free). A free parking trial at the Bronte Cutting car park will also be introduced.

“The working group was really pleased to recommend a whole range of new places for street parking, and a whole range of areas where we’re going to have reduced parking,” Ms Henderson said.

“Some of that is balanced by additional prices in some of the more commercial areas, but in the main we’re really pleased we’re able to create some new parking.”

Council will introduce an increase in early bird fees and monthly fees across all off-street car parks, and there will be some increases to fees paid by visitors at Bondi Beach and Bronte Beach at peak times.

“In winter when the weather isn’t so great at Bondi Beach it’s a lot quieter. In winter on Queen Elizabeth Drive, there will be free parking after 7pm. That’s fantastic because it means that the businesses down there at Bondi Beach have that drawcard.”

Prices for on-street parking on Bronte Road have been cut all year round from $6.60 per hour to $4 per hour, while the Hollywood Avenue car park will be reduced from $6 per hour to $4 for the first hour.

“We’re trying to find the best way to use public space and parking is really important to our way of life, but it is a balancing act,” Ms Henderson said.

“The price of a residential parking permit is going to go up a little bit. It’s going to go up from $34 to $40, but there will be a 25 percent discount for pensioners and concession cardholders.

“Councillors believe this working review has brought us closer to where we want to be.”

Most of the changes will be introduced in July, but some price reductions will be introduced earlier.