Paid parking to expand at Parramatta Park under Park’nPay app

A plan to slug drivers to use a World Heritage-listed park in western Sydney has polarised the community, who want to know how the funds are going to be spent. Find out what’s planned.

A plan to expand paid parking in the UNESCO-listed Parramatta Park has been criticised by visitors as another expense to hit the hip pocket, but park management has vowed to inject the funds back into the 85-hectare treasure.

The State Government has announced the park will be the most recent addition to its Park’nPay app, which Customer Service and Digital Government Minister Victor Dominello said “would give visitors to the popular park a seamless parking experience”.

“Park’nPay will take the hassle out of parking for the thousands of visitors to Parramatta Park each year by allowing them to pay and top-up for parking with just a tap of their phone as well as pay for the exact time they need,” Mr Dominello said.

Paid parking is already imposed at the park’s rose garden and near the former pool at O’Connell St but 89 spaces at the under-construction People’s Loop carpark and Park Pde will boost the coffers more when motorists will be charged $3 an hour, or $14 a day, for a spot between Monday and Saturday from 6am to 8pm.

Peter Wykes jogs through Parramatta Park, near the under-construction car park which will be metered.

The first two hours will be free at the People’s Loop carpark on weekdays and then free after 4pm. There will be no charge on weekends.

A Greater Sydney Parklands Trust spokeswoman said the trust already operated long-stay paid carparks and timed bays on weekdays to control commuter parking numbers that “would otherwise take away parking from visitors”.

The spokeswoman said initial reports that 80 trees would be cleared to build the carpark had been revised and there would be 33 trees cleared and replaced with 170 advanced native trees.

The People’s Loop was created for cars to be removed from the centre of the park to allow more walkers and cyclists to exercise with minimal traffic.

North Parramatta Residents’ Action Group spokeswoman Suzette Meade understood the trust’s reason for charging commuters but slammed the decision for charging locals to use the park despite free parking at Centennial Park in the eastern suburbs.

“What next, entry fees at the historic gates to enter?’’ Ms Meade said.

“We know how much this state government likes to toll families in western Sydney. I hate doing the east versus west thing but it’s another toll for western Sydney.

“People are saying ‘What next, are they going to have a boom gate where you need your Opal card to enter?’”

North Parramatta residents and workmates Genevieve Stewart and Leisa Dornan walk to the park for recreation but disagreed with the fees.

“I think it makes it inaccessible to certain classes,’’ Ms Stewart said. “You should be able to park for free.’’

Ms Dornan agreed: “Especially with the cost of living and everything going up … and you can’t even drive to the park.’’

North Parramatta residents and workmates Genevieve Stewart and Leisa Dornan disagree with paid parking at Parramatta Park.

Yagoona mum Kyra Fletcher drives her three children aged seven, four and one to Parramatta Park twice a month to take advantage of the new playgrounds and well-maintained facilities.

“Three dollars is a bit much but if the money will go for more development of play equipment and upgrades I think that’s fine,’’ she said.

“There’s a lot of kids here, and parents and families, and that’s what we’re here for, for the kids to stretch their legs and play.’’

Yagoona mum Kyra Fletcher and her brother-in-law Phillip Degnan at Parramatta Park. She is with her three children Evie Degnan, 7, Rhiannon Degnan, 4, and baby JJ, one.

Her brother-in-law Phillip Degnan labelled the $3 hourly rate “a bit steep” but $14 was “not too bad”.

Wentworthville jogger Peter Wykes is sceptical about how the funds will be used.

“I come down four or five times a week and run around here, so if I had to pay for parking, I might find somewhere else to run,’’ he said.

“And again, I’d be interested to know what they’re going to do with the money. If the money’s going to be reinvested back in, then we don’t mind paying something but it sounds expensive as well.’’

Wentworthville jogger Peter Wykes might look for somewhere else to jog when paid parking rolls out.

The Greater Sydney Parklands Trust said parking funds would be used to provide essential visitor services, maintenance, cleaning and conservation works in Parramatta Park.

Meantime construction of the parking bays on Park Ave and the People’s Loop is on hold until new contractors are sought.

“The work is 80 per cent complete and once a new contractor has been appointed, we anticipate it will take a further 10 to 12 weeks of work before the carparking is open to park visitors,’’ the spokeswoman said.

Under the Park’nPay app, drivers receive a notification 10 minutes before their parking expires, to help them stay on top of their time.

“More than 109,000 drivers have downloaded the Park’nPay app since its launch in 2019, with more than 91 per cent giving the technology the thumbs up.”

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Originally published as Paid parking to expand at Parramatta Park under Park’nPay app