Watsons Bay timed parking trial: residents pushback against plans on Cliff St, Pacific St and Cove St

Residents of a wealthy harbourside enclave have claimed “road rage” would increase if plans to introduce timed parking for streets surrounding a popular summer spot get the go-ahead.

Camp Cove, Watsons Bay.

Residents of a wealthy harbourside enclave have claimed “road rage” and “verbal abuse” would increase if their local council pushed ahead with plans to introduce timed parking on streets surrounding a popular summer tourist spot.

A proposal to launch a 12-month trial of two-hour timed parking on streets at Watsons Bay – rather than resident-only permit parking – has resulted in stiff opposition by locals who fear battling for a parking spot close to home during the peak holiday season.

A raft of residents, including federal court judge Julia Baird and acclaimed architect Nick Tobias, addressed the recent Woollahra traffic committee meeting, which was considered at the Finance, Community and Services Committee meeting. The Committee resolved to not recommend proceeding with the trial and the matter will be debated by councillors on Monday.

The trial would take place across Cliff St, Pacific St and Cove St and comes as harbour beaches Camp Cove and Watsons Bay Beach – both popular summer attractions – are set for bigger crowds this holiday period due to the ongoing closure of Nielsen Park.

Council papers 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”.

Camp Cove, Watson’s Bay. Picture: David Swift.

Camp Cove, Watson’s Bay. Picture: David Swift.

Council papers state rangers would increase their monitoring of parking compliance to address ongoing parking and traffic issues in the suburb.

Residents, in submissions to council, voiced their concerns with the proposed trial and highlighted how the majority of the area’s weatherboard cottage properties did not have onsite carparking.

Shark Beach at Nielsen Park, Vaucluse is under construction, with the beach set to reopen in 2024. Picture: Richard Dobson.

One anonymous submission said he trial could lead to an increase in “road rage and verbal abuse” due to competition for parking.

“Rather than alleviating the problem, the two hour turnover will exacerbate these issues,” the letter states.

Ms Baird said parking near her home was “difficult” in summer and the trial would mean residents “lose any chance of finding a parking spot as they compete with visitors”.

Woollahra Greens councillor Nicola Grieve said council should deliver better public transport by increasing ferry and bus services, rather than tinker with parking policies.

Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender opposed the parking changes. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

Ms Grieve said residents “love the fact they have visitors”.

“They love to share that environment with visitors,” she said. “They just need to have somewhere where they can park the car”.

Vaucluse state Liberal MP Kellie Sloane said she had used her position on the Local Traffic Committee to vote against the change to the current parking restrictions.

Woollahra councillors Nicola Grieve. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We all know that the parking pressures in Watsons Bay, particularly during the summer months, are a real issue,” Ms Sloane said.

“I have been contacted by literally hundreds of Watsons Bay locals who were deeply concerned about the proposed changes. I have listened to their concerns and voted to support them to retain the current resident parking arrangements,” Ms Sloane said.

Wentworth federal MP Allegra Spender also voiced her support for residents opposed to the changes in a letter, saying the council should “maintain the current residents-only parking arrangements”.

In August, Woollahra Council’s traffic committee was unable to come to an agreement with the four members split on the proposed trial.