Update on beach visitor pay parking
Thank you to everyone who shared feedback on the proposed beach visitor pay parking scheme.
Between March and April, we asked the community for feedback on a proposal designed to make it easier for local residents to park at the beach and reduce congestion while creating a fairer way to fund beach services.
More than 12,000 people gave us feedback with 55% supporting the plan via a survey and 64% supporting it through a representative telephone survey.
What we heard and what’s changing
Based on community feedback, we are recommending several changes to the original proposal:
- Unlimited resident permits
We heard that one free permit per household is not enough. The revised proposal recommends unlimited permits per household so residents with multiple vehicles are not worse off and will not pay. - Reduced metered areas
We heard concerns about potential impacts on businesses and nearby residential streets. In response, the revised proposal limits paid parking to beachside areas only and not adjacent to residents and businesses.
A draft of the revised plan was presented to Council's Governance Advisory Committee meeting on 16 June, noting the full report including consultation outcomes reports will go to the meeting on 30 June.
Read the consultation reports
Next steps
The revised proposal and consultation outcomes will be presented to the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 30 June 2026 for consideration.
Consultation has closed.
Randwick City Council is seeking community feedback on the possible introduction of paid parking for visitors at beachside areas to ensure everyone who uses our beaches fairly contributes to keeping them safe, clean and accessible. Residents would be exempt from paying for parking through a permit system.
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No charge for residents
Permits provided making it easier for locals to secure a park.
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Funding beach services
Additional funds used for beach services, coastal infrastructure and sustainable transport
Our beaches are loved by locals and visitors alike and are a big part of what makes our area such an enjoyable place to call home.
Each year, around nine million people visit Randwick City's beaches. Everyone is welcome. However, at the moment, visitors do not contribute to the cost of maintaining these areas.
Keeping our beaches safe, clean and accessible takes ongoing effort and cost. Right now, locals fund 100 per cent of the cost of maintaining our beaches either directly through rates or indirectly through rent.
Council spends around $23 million each year on lifeguard services, beach cleaning, rubbish collection, park maintenance, coastal infrastructure and public amenities. Council research shows that on hot summer days visitors can make up to 84 per cent of beach users at certain beaches.
We are hearing from locals that increasing visitor numbers mean it is often difficult to find a car park, particularly during peak periods.
As a result, we are seeking community feedback on a proposal to introduce paid parking for visitors at beachside areas, with local residents exempt from paying for parking. The aim is to help locals find parking and to ensure visitors contribute a small share to the cost of maintaining our beaches.
Revenue raised from parking meters is proposed to be spent in three areas:
Improving beach services
Beach cleaning, maintaining coastal parks and reserves, cleaning toilets and providing lifeguard services. Lifeguard costs have increased recently after council expanded lifeguard services at Clovelly, Little Bay and Malabar.
Coastal infrastructure
New and improved walkways, toilets, surf club buildings.
Sustainable transport
Construction of new cycleways.
Randwick City’s beaches receive more than nine million visits a year.
Up to 84% of beach visitors are from outside the Randwick LGA. Visitation rates are highest in La Perouse (84%), Yarra Bay (78%), Little Bay (77%) and Clovelly (70%), and slightly lower in Malabar (64%), Coogee (57%) and Maroubra (56%).
Source: VLC mobile phone people movement data analysis 2023-25.
Parking studies conducted by Council on summer days in 2023 found every beachside area is at or is close to capacity.
As an example, Coogee Beach’s 1,781 parking spaces have on average an 88% occupancy rate on summer weekends – that’s 4,700 vehicles a day staying for on average 203 minutes each. This means many more thousands of cars are driving around looking for parking.
Here’s what Randwick Council spent on beach-related services in 2024–25:
$6.5M Lifeguard services
$2.2M Stormwater management
$5.5M Rangers and parking patrols
$0.5M Beachside events (NYE & Carols)
$5.1M Coastal walkway improvements
$0.4M Emergency works
$3M Beach cleaning and waste
$0.3M Support for surf clubs
Total cost of managing beachside areas: $23.5M
Have your say
There are several easy ways to share your feedback.
Complete the resident survey
Online or paper
We’ve mailed a survey to every household in Randwick City. You can:
- Fill in the paper survey and return it using the reply‑paid envelope provided (no stamp needed), or
- Complete the survey online here (closed)
Please note: the paper and online surveys are the same. You only need to complete one.
Take part in a telephone survey
Taverner Research is conducting a telephone survey with around 600 people from the Randwick City community. If you receive a call, we encourage you to take part and share your views.
Drop in and chat with us
Council staff will be available at the following drop‑in sessions to answer questions and hear your feedback. No bookings are required.
Coogee Beach Promenade - Saturday 21 March, 10am to 12 midday
McKeon Street Plaza, Maroubra Beach - Saturday 28 March, 10am to 12 midday
