Sydney Ports cuts back on parking spaces

After local business owners and the Mayor fought back against plans to scale back the number of parking spaces along the Robert St construction site, Sydney Ports has backed down.

The development of a cruise passenger terminal at White Bay was taking up 50 parking spaces, but Sydney Ports has now allotted parking for residents making way for 40 new parking spaces. No parking spaces have been designated for customers. Sydney Ports had originally identified a net loss of 125 car parking spaces in Roberts Rd but reduced the number to 50 after community consultation was carried out.

Owner of Balmain Fitness on Robert St, Morris Karam said the depletion of parking in the area resulted in fewer customers visiting his gym.

“The parking issue has got progressively worse and it has really been compounded with the development of the cruise ship terminal,” he said.

“With the restriction on parking down the road, it’s really affected the amount of available spots. People can’t park so they get frustrated and don’t bother coming down, or end up resigning their memberships, or not renewing their memberships.

“With the ever-encroaching developments around here, god only knows what it will do to the availability of parking for us and our members, as well as for the surrounding businesses.”

A spokesperson from Sydney Ports said: “After meeting with the Mayor, Sydney Ports has agreed to offer Balmain residents that live around the Port the parking area behind White  Bay Fall as a long-term car park.

“These parking spaces will only cater to residents who have registered with Sydney Ports.”

Mayor Darcy Byrne was successful in calling on Sydney Ports to curtail the parking crisis.

“Local businesses and residents in Robert St continue to pay the price for Sydney Ports’ dictatorial approach,” he said. “Everyone knows parking in Balmain [and Rozelle] is at premium but Sydney Ports continue to remove more and more parking spaces without even bothering to talk to us about it. It’s time for them to wake up to themselves and stop acting like cowboys.

“Leichhardt Council has made it clear to Sydney Ports that an ongoing loss of parking in Robert St is a serious problem for local businesses and residents. Despite this, parking continues to be removed without consultation and in a haphazard manner.”