Further work has been completed on car parking management in Brooklyn following Council’s resolution associated with Notice of Motion (NOM)11/23 – including investigations associated with permit parking schemes and the evaluation of the reduced number of timed car parking spaces on the riverfront. The recommended path forward with car parking management in Brooklyn will be considered by Council at the upcoming General Meeting on Wednesday, 8 May. In summary, the Report details the following:

• Following the resolution to reduce timed parking on the river front, utilisation of the associated car parking areas exceeded an average of 85% during the trial period, the accepted standard for maximum sustainable occupancy.
• A resident parking scheme cannot be accommodated in Lower McKell Park due to the recreational value of the land and its use for the public purpose of public recreation.
• The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – Crown Lands and Public Spaces (the Department) has provided written advice to this effect (Item 2, Attachment 1).
• The Department has indicated that they will consider a resident parking scheme in the form of a tenure in either Upper McKell Park (overflow area), Parsley Bay or near the slip road/behind the Hawkesbury River Marina.
• The Department (as landowner) has provided written direction to Council (as land manager) to manage parking in Lower McKell Park for “on reserve” purposes and has explicitly stated that resident parking on the reserve is not consistent with the reserve purpose.
• New time restrictions that will comply with this direction have been included in this Report as part of the car parking management roll out plan (Item 2, Attachment 2).
• Options for a Special Circumstances Parking Permit have been evaluated and Councillors were provided with an informal briefing. It is not recommended that such a permit system progress due to concerns that a priority of access approach based on a person’s age, carer status or work status may be contrary to anti-discrimination legislation and would also constrain future uses of Council’s operational land holdings noting that very little appropriate land is available within the immediate Brooklyn precinct.
• No changes are recommended to current time restricted parking in the Dangar Road (wharf) carpark – subject to a review linked to the negotiations associated with a tenure for resident parking in either Upper McKell Park (overflow area), Parsley Bay or near the slip road/behind the Hawkesbury River Marina.

View the full Council Meeting Business Paper (Item 2, Report GM14/24) and Attachments for the upcoming meeting to be held on 8 May 2024.

Council owned town and village centre carparks are used by people visiting businesses and restaurants.

It is recommended that the Dangar Road (wharf) carpark retain the current car parking arrangements which is a mix of both timed and unrestricted car parking spaces.

• 14 x 4 hour (4P) car parking spaces
• 16 x unrestricted car parking spaces (estimate)
• Retain all accessible car parking spaces

This carpark is Crown Land and car parking on this reserve is to support public recreation and access for users of the park. The proposed timing supports the use of the space for morning tea and lunchtime visitors. It will also allow for extended daytime use and overnight use by offshore residents.

Main points of proposed parking changes:

1. Reinstate timed parking in Lower McKell Park along the northern (riverside) row of the carpark:

• 6am–6pm 4 hour (4P)
• Retain all accessible car parking spaces
• Retain all ½ hour car parking spaces
• Recommendation for June 2024 implementation.

2. Introduce timed parking in Lower McKell Park along the southern (hillside) row of the carpark:

• 6am-6pm 8 hour (8P)
• Retain all accessible car parking spaces
• Recommendation for mid to late 2024 implementation following Local Traffic Committee endorsement.