Third of Manly parking permits to be rescinded in Northern Beaches Council overhaul

A third of parking permits in Manly will be rescinded amid complaints from residents and revelations that there are now more permits than available parking spaces.

Manly resident Will Hall has welcomed plans for a permit overhaul. Picture: Brett Costello

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A third of parking permits in Manly will be rescinded amid complaints from residents and revelations that there are now more permits than available parking spaces.

Some residents have cited examples of local parking permits being sold online, as others struggled to find somewhere to park near their homes.

A report before Northern Beaches Council on Tuesday night revealed there were 7500 current parking permits for just 5250 on-street resident parking spaces­ across Manly.

The council will launch a wide-ranging residential parking permit review, with officers arguing the system had been run on a “sub-optimal basis” for many years.

Roads and Maritime Service guidelines say there should not be more permits than parking spaces, meaning at least 2250 permits are set to go.

Residents have welcomed the review. Kelly Dorian said that finding a park close to home, especially­ with two children in the car, could be “a nightmare”.

“People move away and then keep their permits, and you also see them for sale on the internet,” Ms Dorian said. “The system needs to be fair.”

Kelly Dorian and husband Miles said it is a nightmare to find a parking spot even with a permit

Will Hall said he is rarely able to get a parking spot in his street when he returns from work.

“I’ve had about $4000 in parking fines this year,” he said.

“After a long day at work you just want to park but there’s rarely a space. It’s frustrating.

“I often end up parking in front of a no stopping sign until there is a space free but (parking rangers) target this area. They know people have trouble finding a space.”

Mr Hall said many of the “no stopping” signs are unnecessary and urged the council to also review them to free up more parking.

Anne Maria Nicholson became so frustrated at not being able to find a space she rented a garage at $90 a week. “I’d sometimes have to park three or four blocks away,” she said.

Finding a parking space in Manly can be a nightmare. Pictured traffic banked back on Victoria Pde

Ten parking areas have been designated for change: Little Manly, Balgowlah, Tower Hill, Tower Hill Extension, Ocean Beach, The Isthmus, Fairy Bower, Ivanhoe Park, Ivanhoe Park Extension and Ethel St.

To be eligible for a permit­, the RMS states a resident must not have on-site parking and also no access to unrestricted street parking nearby. The council must also take into account whether the resident could modify their property to create a parking space.

Residential permits should not be handed out for trucks, buses, trams, caravan trailers and tractors and the vehicle should be registered in NSW.

Will Hall has paid $4000 in parking fines — despite having a permit. Picture: Brett Costello

Business permits will also be scrutinised, with the council taking into consideration if the vehicle is registered to the business­ and whether or not it is primarily used for business purposes­. The council will also look at whether the premises have on-site parking or nearby unrestricted on-street parking.

The council estimates more than 800 extra permits have been handed out to charities, clubs, associations and schools. The report states the allocation of these “appears not to follow any formal­ process” and that there are “limited records”.

“Some permits have been issued to schools on an un­restricted basis for staff parking,” the report reads. In future schools “will only be issued restricted permits … for school hours on gazetted school days”.

Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan said the community will be extensively consulted on the plans. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

At Tuesday night’s Northern Beaches Council meeting, councillors voted to launch the permit review.

Manly councillor Candy Bingham told the meeting it would be a difficult task but the council was right to “bite the bullet”.

“It has just basically got out of control,” she said of the permit system. “Residents are vying for parking with tourists and businesses and now school students who can also drive.

“The existing scheme has become unruly. There are thousands more permits than spaces and it really is time we sorted it out.”

She also called on council officers to explore alternative solutions.

“I know in North Sydney for example they offer permits on a one day basis and they are suitable for tradies and visitors.

“It is something we should look at very seriously.”

She also said there would have to be some behavioural change.

“I do know of many people who use their garage as storage and then park on the street so clearly there has to be some change.”

Cr Sarah Gratton warned her fellow councillors to expect complaints from residents.

“It is a thorny problem and it is great we are starting to sort that problem,” she said.

“There are going to be impacts on residents so we just have to be prepared for what is going to be coming.”

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