Changes to on-street parking in the Parramatta CBD could soon be on its way, with timed parking in some locations set to be reduced from one hour to just 30 minutes.
Parramatta Council is proposing to convert current signposted one-hour timed parking within the CBD to 30-minute timed parking from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The potential changes come after Council recently surveyed on-street parking within the Parramatta CBD and found that it is difficult for people to find parking in one-hour parking areas due to low vacancy rates.
“A recent survey by Council found that people had difficulty finding a spot in one-hour parking areas due to low turnover,” a City of Parramatta spokesperson said.
“To address this, Council is proposing to make on-street parking within the CBD primarily for short stays to allow high turnover, with off-street car parks better suited for long-stay parking.”
By converting the signposted one-hour parking to 30-minute parking, Council expects the availability of on-street parking will increase.
“Increasing the number of 30 minute-timed spaces is expected to improve access for everyone to businesses and services in the Parramatta CBD and, in turn, better support the local economy,” it said.
The Council also anticipates the changes will provide better support to the retail and commercial businesses in the CBD.
“City of Parramatta is committed to supporting our local businesses while making visits to the Parramatta CBD as easy as possible,” the spokesperson said.
Some of the streets that could potentially see the signposted one-hour timed parking get reduced include Hunter Street, Hassall Street, Phillip Street, Horwood Place, George Street and Macquarie Street.
Council also noted that concessions associated with the Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) allow permit holders to park all day for free in an on-street parking space that has a signposted time limit of more than 30 minutes. Holders of a MPS Permit can however park in 30-minute spots for up to two hours, allowing them to attend appointments or to visit shops and restaurants.
Residents, businesses and visitors to Parramatta’s CBD are now being encouraged to have their say on the proposed changes to parking. People can find out more and submit their feedback on Council’s website, with submissions set to close at 5pm on Tuesday, October 18.
“Parking is an important issue for our community, so Council is providing an opportunity for them to have their say and help shape the future of parking in the City of Parramatta,” the spokesperson said.
“The feedback received from the community during consultation will be considered and incorporated into a report that will be returned to Council later this year.”
To find out more go to participate.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/30-minute-CBD-Parking.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.