Watsons Bay parking: Woollahra Council to consider new options for residents parking

A Sydney council has been hamstrung by legal advice that a residents-only parking scheme near a popular tourist hotspot is unlawful – and now risks losing the prized locals-only parking altogether.

A Sydney council has been hamstrung by legal advice that a residents-only parking scheme near popular tourist hotspots is unlawful – and now risks losing the prized locals-only parking altogether.

The current ‘No Parking Permit Holders Excepted’ scheme at streets surrounding Watsons Bay and Camp Cove was found to be “unlawful” and “should be removed as they are not permissive parking signs”, according to legal counsel provided to Woollahra Council on its request.

The council will now vote on the recommendation it must immediately update the parking rules.

It comes after a motion earlier this year to abolish the privileged locals-only spots.

Legal advice shared with the council has indicated it should amend its permit parking scheme, with a new temporary “1P 8am-6pm Permit Holders Excepted Area WB1” restriction across a raft of streets including Camp St, Cove St, Pacific St and Short St at the narrow coastline between Watson’s Bay and Camp Cove.

Crowds at Camp Cove Beach, a popular tourist destination in the summer months. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Tourists and visitors flock to Camp Cove Beach, pictured, and Watsons Bay in the summer months however parking in the narrow streets is contested. Picture: Tim Hunter.

This would mean nonresidents would be able to park at the streets for an hour between 8am-6pm and for an unlimited amount of time before and after those hours, with residents who have permits able to park for as long as they like at any time of day.

Council’s agenda states signs would be displayed on-site and a letterbox drop would be undertaken to inform residents within 50m of the new restrictions.

The restrictions, while only temporary, go against the wishes of many local residents who mounted passionate opposition to the initial proposal of 12-month trial of two-hour timed parking to replace rules that only allowed residents with permits to park at certain streets.

Residents have argued the parking is essential as many of the heritage-listed weatherboard cottages in the area don’t have garages and it was reasonable for residents to be able to park near their homes rather than lose out on spots to visitors.

Watsons Bay Association leader Andrew Maloney previously argued the previous two-hour timed parking option would have a limited benefit to visitors looking to enjoy the beach as many visitors wanted to stay at the beach for far longer periods of time.

He said public transport was at “absolute bursting capacity” in the area at the peak of summer and should be expanded to improve visitors experience and reduce congestion.

Andrew Maloney.

Council papers tabled in September state an increased turnover of parked cars would ease problems during the peak summer period when congestion was highest, but accepted parking problems would “probably never be fully resolved”.

The agenda notes council rangers would continue to “proactively monitor and enforce on-street parking in Watsons Bay, particularly during the summer peak period”, in order to improve parking compliance in the area.

If adopted, a further report would be presented to the council before the end of the proposed permit parking trail scheme to consider “a long-term permit parking scheme for Watsons Bay in March 2024”.

Camp Cove beach, Watsons Bay, Sydney. Picture: Universal Images Group via Getty Images.

A report shared with the council states if it resolves to adopt a change to a parking restriction that is not in line with the “unanimous” advice from its local traffic committee, the council must advise Transport for NSW (TfNSW) or NSW Police representatives on the committee of its decision.

“Council staff have been advised verbally that TfNSW will not support a parking permit time restriction which is less than one hour,” the reports states, adding an appeal could remove residents parking altogether.

“There is a very real risk that a successful appeal to the [regional traffic committee] would result in the removal of the existing restrictions which favour permit holders, with no restriction to replace them for the peak summer period,’ the report states.

“All of the existing ‘No Parking Permit Holders Excepted’ spaces would effectively become unrestricted spaces.”

The council is set to consider the recommendations at its Wednesday meeting.