Parra news: Parramatta Park Paid Parking.
The first move by the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust legislation – people in Parramatta now have to pay to park their car when visiting Parramatta Park. Alliance for Public Parklands Suzette Meade says “The Greater Sydney Parklands agency was being set up to advocate for better recurrent funding for the operation of the parks, but it appears it’s just giving them greater allowance to commercialise the park to raise funds for themselves.”
Read Nicola Barton’s article here or read the transcript below.
Residents fume over paid parking plan at Parramatta Park
parra news 25 July 2022
by Nicola Barton
Local residents have aired their frustrations after Parramatta Park was revealed to be the latest location to join the NSW Government’s Park’nPay app.
The app promises to take the hassle out of parking for visitors to the UNESCO-listed Parramatta Park by allowing them to pay for parking online, but locals have criticised the plan over concerns of where the funds will go.
Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee believes the technology will make life easier.
“The world heritage listed Parramatta Park has so much to offer,” Mr Lee said.
“We are excited to add more than 100 parking spots across Parramatta Park into the platform and ensure more people can enjoy the benefits of Park’nPay.”
However, members of the North Parramatta Residents Action Group (NPRAG) condemned the decision to charge visitors to park in the car park, calling it “another toll on western Sydney”.
“The Greater Sydney Parklands agency was being set up to advocate for better recurrent funding for the operation of the parks, but it appears it’s just giving them greater allowance to commercialise the park to raise funds for themselves,” NPRAG spokesperson Suzette Meade said.
“What’s next, entry fees at the historic gates to enter? We know how much this State government likes to toll families in western Sydney.”
Ms Mead said residents were outraged when it was confirmed trees would be cut down in Parramatta Park to make way for the new car park.
“We all know how hot it is in Parramatta and to be losing more trees for a car park we thought was totally unnecessary, and now to be told we’re having to pay for it seems like a joke, especially since Centennial Park is entirely free,” she said.
“It’s the old adage of pull down the trees and put up a parking lot.” Greater Sydney Parklands Acting Chief Executive Joshua French defended the paid car park, confirming initial reports that over 80 trees would be cleared for the construction had been revised.
“33 trees in total [will be removed], but we’re replacing them with 160-170 trees, we’re actually putting in a few more and they’ll go in at the end of the year,” he said.
“[The funds] will go back to the park, parking is 40 per cent of our revenue and it goes to maintenance, cleaning the toilets and also restoring the heritage throughout the park.”
Mr French said there would be 89 parking spots at the People’s Loop car park, which will be free for two hours.
