Sutherland Shire to have more timed limits to avoid paid parking

The only way to avoid paying for parking in Sutherland Shire town centres, beaches and shopping locations will be for more timed parking to be implemented.

Sutherland Shire Council will investigating implementing more timed limits in town centres to avoid making residents pay to park. Picture: Sutherland Shire Council

Residents are going to have to get used to moving their cars more often as timed parking limits are expected to become common across the shire.

It is part of a strategy designed to combat the lack of parking supply in town centres after it was revealed creating more free spots was not feasible.

The limits will be considered in an attempt to avoid Sutherland Shire Council implementing paid parking.

The council has developed a draft parking strategy which outlines supply and management over the coming decade.

A council report said the traditional response to increase demand had been to add more parking supply but that created greater reliance on cars and therefore more traffic congestion.

Cronulla town centre and beach is notoriously difficult to park on busy summer days and public holidays. Picture: Supplied, Sutherland Shire Council

“New free parking spaces which are expensive to provide should be seen as a last resort,” the report said.

In 2019, the cost of constructing two levels of above ground parking was $19,700 per spot, with the cost of below-ground being more than $48,000 per space.

Therefore the council’s focus will be on timed parking limits.

Sutherland Shire Business Chamber of Commerce president Jeanne Zweck, who owns Mint Marketing in Caringbah, said business owners’ biggest concern was two-hour parking limits which prevented customers from lingering and window shopping because they often had to move their car or risk a fine.

Sutherland Shire Business Chamber of Commerce president Jeanne Zweck, who owns Mint Marketing in Caringbah, wants to see a mix of timed parking limits in town centres to help business owners and consumers. Picture: Sutherland Shire Business Chamber of Commerce

“A mix of times is important so we give consumers different options,” she said.

“Fifteen minutes is good for people getting a coffee but there also needs to be medium and all day parking.”

Last month a trial began of three-hour restrictions for 253 spots along Mitchell Road and Prince Street in North Cronulla on weekends and public holidays until April.

Sutherland mayor Carmelo Pesce, who owns Bianchini’s cafe located where the parking trial has been implemented, said when first suggested, residents misunderstood the details.

“It helps turnover of spaces for businesses and beachgoers,” Cr Pesce said.

“We pride ourselves on being one of the only beach suburbs that doesn’t have paid parking and we hope it stays that way.”

Council has introduced a trial of three-hour restriction for 253 spots along Mitchell Road and Prince Street in North Cronulla on weekends and public holidays until April. Picture: Sutherland Shire Council

Cr Pesce said he did not support the introduction of paid parking, especially with the rising cost of living.

“Residents already pay rates so they should be able to use the public amenities such as the beach for free,” he said.

Cr Pesce said timed parking helped business owners in town centres because it caused a turnover of customers.

The council has vowed to not introduce area-based permit parking schemes, compulsorily acquire private land for public parking or paid parking unless it funds a new facility or where all other reasonable options to create turnover have been exhausted.

The council has vowed to not introduce paid parking unless it funds a new facility or where all other reasonable options to create turnover have been exhausted. Picture: Sutherland Shire Council

Caringbah, Kirrawee, Jannali and Sutherland town centres; Cronulla beachfront and town centre; Kirrawee and Taren Point employment zones, and Bundeena and Kurnell were identified as high demand areas where parking options needed to reassessed.

The strategy said the council would look to ensure improved parking at council facilities and develop a policy to manage and enforce parking restrictions around schools, sporting facilities, hospitals, surf lifesaving clubs, churches, national parks and train stations.

The council will implement a plan to help manage parking demand at beachfronts, boat ramps, public reserves and national parks over summer; and trial the use of parking sensors and share parking availability via the council’s website, parking apps and signage boards.