Northern Beaches Council will slash parking fees by up to 40 percent at popular Rowland Reserve in Bayview and will double the number of free one-hour parking spaces. The changes are expected to take place in April.

Council is lowering the hourly summer rate from $10 to $6 per hour and the daily rate from $40 to $25.

Winter rates will also fall; down to $5 an hour from $8 and from $35 to $22 on a daily basis.

Summer rates apply from 1 October to 30 April and winter rates are from 1 May – 30 September. Free one-hour parking spaces within the carpark will be increased from 28 to 54.

The aim is to encourage visitors to the popular recreational spot to park in the areas provided and not in the surrounding streets.

Mayor Michael Regan said Rowland Reserve’s growing popularity with dog-walkers, anglers, boaties and other recreational users prompted the decision to double the free one-hour parking space availability.

“The existing one-hour space was often full and motorists often couldn’t find a parking space, forcing them onto neighbouring streets.”

The changes to the car parking fees and hourly parking were proposed in a report to Council last December and placed on public exhibition from 16 January 2019.

“The community was overwhelmingly supportive of the proposal, though some expressed a view that Rowland Reserve should be free or at a reduced rate for residents and ratepayers,” said Mayor Regan.

“Unfortunately, this is not possible due to the terms of a grant that Council received under the NSW Waterways Infrastructure ‘Boat Launch Construction Program’ which paid for the recent upgrade of the boat-ramp at Rowland Reserve.

“The grant terms require us to charge equally for parking to residents and non-residents, alike. So, we’re lowering fee across the board instead.”

Media Enquiries: media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 9942 2678