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Unpaid Timed Parking Meters in the City of Sydney Local Government Area

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: Recommendations Determined

Decision:

Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor Vithoulkas –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          during discussion on the revised draft Neighbourhood Parking Policy in 2018, the Council was asked to review the “4P (8am-12midnight, Area 15 permit holders excepted)” permit parking restrictions on Greens Road and implement “2P Ticket (8am-8pm), 4P Ticket (8pm-12midnight)” permit parking restrictions, as:

(a)        residents have continually raised concerns that the 4P restriction has reduced parking availability for residents and their visitors; and

(b)        to increase parking opportunities in the area for residents and their visitors;

(ii)         there have been two proposals regarding the change of parking conditions in Area 15 (Paddington and Darlinghurst):

(a)        the changing of the parking limit from 4P to “2P (8am-8pm), 4P (8pm-12midnight)” along Greens Road, Paddington (between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road); and

(b)        the introduction of paid parking meters to aid in the enforcement of the new parking restrictions across Area 15. In particular:

·             Greens Road, Paddington (between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road);

·             Oxford Street, Paddington (between Oatley Road and Greens Road) and;

·             Goulburn Street, Darlinghurst;

(iii)        there is a strong community objection to the use of parking meters, with numerous written objections and representatives have spoken against installing such meters at committee meetings;

(iv)       numerous constituents with business and personal interest in the area have written to the Council opposing the implementation of paid parking restrictions due to:

(a)        parking meters imposing a cost and therefore deterring customers and residential visitors from coming to the area;

(b)        increasing financial strain on local businesses and shops; and

(c)         creating more parking congestion in other already congested sections of Area 15 as visitors search for free parking.

(v)         the lack of substantial community consultation regarding the planned changes, tabling a new addition (Item 47) at the December 2018 Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee meeting on which a decision was made without the appropriate authority; and

(vi)       previous correspondence from 2017 between the Lord Mayor and a constituent explicitly stated the City would not implement paid parking in Area 15;

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          suspend use of the new paid parking meter on Goulburn Street, Darlinghurst;

(ii)         deem the decision made regarding Item 47, which recommended paid metered parking along Greens Road, at the 13 December 2018 Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee meeting is invalid as the Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee does not have the appropriate authority to determine the matter; and

(iii)        investigate introducing unpaid timed parking meters throughout the City of Sydney Local Government Area to assist rangers with enforcing parking limits.

__________________________________________________________________

Note – the above motion was not carried. The resolution below was carried –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          the City of Sydney changed parking restrictions on the eastern side of Greens Road between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road, next to Victoria Barracks in March 2016, from “2P 8am-2am” to  “4P 8am-12 midnight” in response to concerns from local business that 2P was too restrictive;

(ii)         the 4P permit parking on Greens Road was implemented for a two-year period and residents raised concerns this reduced parking availability;

(iii)        in a letter dated 6 November 2018, the City consulted residents and businesses on a proposal on the eastern side Greens Road for 2P Ticket (8am-8pm) and 4P Ticket (8pm-12midnight)”;

(iv)       a number of residents and business owners addressed the December 2018 Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee (LPCTCC) and expressed their concerns about the proposal;

(v)         there was discussion that 4P is difficult to enforce without parking meters;

(vi)       subsequently the LPCTCC followed due process to endorse “2P (8am-8pm) and 4P (8pm- 12midnight)” on the eastern side of Greens Road, Paddington (between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road) ticketed parking;

(vii)      City staff consulted the community five times over the last two years on various proposals for Greens Road and the endorsed proposal was an initiative on the Committee’s part to find a fair and workable solution;

(viii)     as Greens Road north of Albion Avenue isn’t residential, the resolution did not require further consultation; and

(ix)       residents and businesses wrote to us after the decision of the LPCTCC and asked to meet with City staff and the Lord Mayor to reconsider the decision to introduce ticketed parking on the eastern side of Greens Road;

(B)        ticketed parking not be introduced, and that the current parking arrangements be reviewed after a year on Greens Road;

(C)       parking meters will not be introduced on Oxford Street, Paddington (between Oatley Road and Greens Road), and parking arrangements will be reviewed after a year;

(D)       ticketed parking on Goulburn Street, between Crown and Riley Streets, will be reviewed and 15 minute free parking will be trialled; and

(E)        unpaid time parking meters to assist rangers with enforcing parking are not supported, because this does not encourage parking turnover;

(F)        the Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee will be provided with this Notice of Motion at their next meeting.

Carried unanimously.

S129263

Report author: Erin Cashman

Publication date: 08/04/2019

Date of decision: 08/04/2019

Decided at meeting: 08/04/2019 - Council

Accompanying Documents: