Media Release
2-6-04
No Parking Meters yet but Randwick Mayor Commits to Beach and Local Exemptions for Residents.
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Much of the controversy in Randwick over whether parking meters should be implemented was removed last tonight when Greens Mayor Murray Matson flagged major exemptions for residents.
Clr Matson states that it his opinion that residents should be given exemption permits to park within their local areas and at any of the Council's beaches.
Clr Matson elaborated after the meeting
"The exemptions that I flagged tonight will go along way towards building resident support for parking meters.
"By committing ourselves to these resident exemptions we will be clearly and emphatically shifting the revenue burden on to visitors rather than residents."
The two suggestions discussed by the Mayor are contained within a report that was attached to the draft Council budget papers debated at the meeting.
Local area exemptions will be tied to the creation of Resident Preferred Parking Schemes (RPS) - an existing Council project commenced last year.
The report states that,
"It is proposed that full exemption of charges be offered to local residents within their RPS area. These exemptions will only apply to parking meters within designated residents parking zones within their RPS area. Exemption will not apply to meters which are not located in a residents parking zone, or to meter in other RPS areas."
As well as being able to park freely in their own surrounding streets Randwick residents will also enjoy open access to all the beaches if meters are installed.
The report states,
"All residents of Randwick are to be offered exemption from meter charges at foreshore/beachfront car parks. This effectively creates a user-pays system for visitors to the City's beaches and will off-set the additional costs associated with high visitor patronage of Randwick's beaches and foreshores without disadvantage to city residents."