Parking restriction installation around Sydney Metro station streets
Commuters were convinced it was a nasty ‘April Fools' Day’ joke by a Sydney council, but new parking restrictions around Sydney Metro northwest stations are now a reality.
Hills Shire
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Commuters were convinced it was a nasty ‘April Fools' Day’ joke but new parking restrictions around Sydney Metro northwest stations are now a reality.
Hundreds of ‘No Parking’ and restricted parking zones were installed across 54 streets in The Hills last weekend — resulting in commuter backlash, as residents returned to work on Monday.
In December, Transport for NSW’s Sydney Metro department called for The Hills Shire, Hornsby and Blacktown councils to approve the installation of new parking restrictions, with The Hills rubber stamping the NSW Government determination last month.
Commuters were bombarded with new parking restrictions in residential streets, stretching from Rouse Hill through Kellyville, Bella Vista and Norwest and up to Castle Hill, as the council prepares for the opening of the Sydney Metro northwest in May.
WHERE COMMUTERS CAN NO LONGER PARK
But the move to install restrictions was met with a mixed response, with residents hitting out at a lack of notice, while others said they support the scheme to prevent ‘illegal parking’.
Rouse Hill resident Monique Cowper said new restrictions would push commuters to other congested roads across The Hills.
“There was no notice from council that this was happening and people don’t know which streets are being affected,” Mrs Cowper told the Times.
MORE ON THE METRO
Mrs Cowper said The Hills Shire Council pitched the idea as a move to “do the right thing for residents” but said this was not the case.
“There are no T-way parking sites in Rouse Hill, so everyone is forced to park in residential streets,” she said.
“People that put witches hats and bollards outside their homes are only making the situation worse because if we had an alternative parking option, we would use it.”
Kellyville resident Michelle Jelaca hit out at The Hills Shire Council, calling for residential parking schemes to be put in place for homeowners who can no longer park outside their property.
“We had a letter from the Sydney Metro northwest telling us that parking zones would be coming to our street,” Mrs Jelaca said. “Not once were we notified from council what parking restriction zones would be imposed in our street and when.”
Mrs Jelaca said her family has five cars and a trailer at their home and was concerned rangers would start fining her for parking outside her home.
IN OTHER NEWS
“I live here and deal with accidents on a regular basis, but not once have the council decided to ask our opinion on an issue that will impact a lot of people,” she said.
“We would like council to install a residential parking scheme so homeowners can park outside their own properties.”
The installation of new parking restrictions comes just weeks after The Times revealed the NSW Government were proposing the installation of no parking zones in 63 different streets across northwest Sydney.
Liberal councillor Mike Thomas said council must be “mindful of the impact the station will have on residents” and called on council to do “all we can to alleviate the impacts on them”.
While Hills Shire Council general manager Michael Edgar said council would conduct a review of parking around Sydney Metro stations “from day one”.
The Hills Shire Council were approached for comment.