Council opposes beach permits for all
Any resident of Sydney may soon be able to buy a parking permit for the Northern Beaches under changes proposed by the State Government.
In April, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) started a consultation about parking permit changes which would make access to beaches ‘more equitable’ for local renters and ‘on fair terms’ for ‘all residents of NSW’ who wish to buy a permit.
The Northern Beaches does not allow non-residents to buy parking permits, but provides two free beach front permits per ratepayer. Any Northern Beaches resident can buy two permits, for $250 each.
Under the proposed new regulations, which would be implemented in July, permit prices for non-residents must be set according to certain principles, including: “The public have a right to access foreshore (and) beaches; pricing cannot be used to unreasonably disadvantage or deter any applicants from outside the council’s area of operations.”
Mayor Sue Heins raised the issue in a mayoral minute at council’s April meeting, saying the changes were ‘poorly conceived (and) contain inconsistent and unclear policy directions.’ The mayor said the changes would cost ratepayers more than $500,000 a year. “As the council with the largest amount of beaches, this is going to affect our residents greatly,” the mayor said at the meeting.
“While council would like to be able to provide free parking or permits to all, the cleaning, staffing and managing of our beaches to keep swimmers safe, is a significant cost to Northern Beaches ratepayers.”
Councillors resolved to write to the government opposing the changes, and asked that council be given autonomy to manage local parking demand.
New Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison told PL that local beaches were ‘an essential and much- loved resource for everyone.’ “What the government has proposed is that councils consider the equity of their rules so that all local residents, including renters, have the same beach parking access.
“A third of people rent their home in NSW, and that number is rising – we do not think it is reasonable to say in a cost-of-living crisis they don’t deserve the same access to their local beach as homeowners. It’s a fairness issue.”
At the meeting, Mayor Heins asked: “What is fair? We have residents who have no access to parking. And having two stickers is fair as ratepayers already pay for them.”
Submissions can be made via parking_guidelines@transport.nsw.gov.au and close 2 May.