Bronte parking rates under review
Image: A view of Bronte Rd near the beach. Photo: Swell Restaurant.
Councillor Paula Masselos has called on Waverley Council to investigate the feasibility of changing parking meter regulations in Bronte during winter.
The proposal applies to the cafe strip on Bronte Road at Bronte Beach and between 484 to 520 Bronte Rd (on both sides of the road), with the present rate fixed at $6.60 per hour.
The move has received bipartisan support, with Council now set to explore the option of turning off the parking meters “during the winter months”, allowing visitors free parking at all times in the area.
Other options include reducing the rate to $4 per hour, increasing permissible parking duration from one to two hours during winter months and free parking after 6pm during summer.
Council will receive information on all contractual arrangements with suppliers of the parking meters, including ongoing maintenance agreements over the costs, terms and durations of parking meters implemented at Bronte.
Cr Masselos said the current parking scheme has placed increased pressures on local businesses with the allowable hours being “too short,” meaning that parking prices have become “unreasonable”.
“Traders along [the] Bronte Beach cafe strip are increasingly concerned about the drop in trading during winter months,” Cr Masselos told the Bondi View.
“We have a council that represents small business but … we needed to consult with residents regarding the potential impact of these meters.”
Owner of Swell Restaurant in Bronte, Sandy Bruns, has lauded the move, arguing that although Bronte is a unique destination, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain her business during winter as a result of the current parking scheme.
“I’ve been in restaurants for over 39 years but when you’ve got 10 shops all vying for the same local business, it becomes difficult for people to … enjoy what we’ve got to offer without paying a premium for the parking,” she said.
Ms Bruns said she is in favour of competition, but argued that local businesses are at a great disadvantage when their patrons are faced with “very expensive” parking rates.
“Is it better to have 20 nice buzzing cafes or 50 gloomy empty ones?” she said.
Cr Masselos said the current scheme was also problematic for Bronte residents who own more than one vehicle.
“There are lots of people who have two or three cars per house,” she said.
“With these prices, it’s not friendly to small business or the community.”
Waverley Council is expected to schedule an investigation into parking meter rates in Bronte at the start of the new financial year in July.
