Randwick Beach Parking Meters Scrapped as Council Keeps Beaches Free

Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra, Randwick & other eastern suburbs beaches will remain meter-free after council rejected controversial parking plan

More on Randwick

In early 2026, Randwick City Council proposed introducing paid parking for visitors at its major beach precincts, arguing the move would improve parking availability for locals while helping fund the growing cost of maintaining the municipality's popular coastline. The proposal quickly became one of the most debated local government issues in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The original plan proposed installing parking meters at beachside areas including Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra, Malabar, Little Bay, La Perouse and Yarra Bay. Residents would not pay for parking, with each household initially offered one free permit. Visitors, however, would pay seasonal parking fees.

There were three main objectives to the plan:

• Improve parking turnover during busy summer periods.

• Give local residents better access to beach parking.

• Generate revenue to help cover approximately $23 million annually spent on beach maintenance, lifeguards, cleaning, coastal infrastructure and public amenities, with visitors contributing to costs traditionally borne by local ratepayers. 

It would be a similar system to what already operates at neighbouring coastal councils such as Waverley and Northern Beaches.

The public response to the proposal was immediate and passionate, and initially seemed balanced in for/against sentiments.

Some of the main pro arguments were:

• Local ratepayers should not shoulder the full cost of maintaining beaches used by millions of visitors each year.

• Paid parking would encourage higher turnover of spaces, making it easier for residents to park.

• A modest visitor charge was fair given the extensive services provided.

Some of the main con arguments included:

• Parking fees would make beaches less accessible, particularly for families and lower-income visitors.

• Local businesses feared customers would choose other destinations rather than pay for parking.

• Residents worried paid parking would gradually expand beyond the initial areas ("meter creep").

• Many believed better enforcement of existing time limits could solve congestion without introducing parking meters. 

Community engagement attracted more than 12,000 responses, making it one of the largest consultations undertaken by the council. Council's survey found a slight majority of respondents supported the proposal, while a representative telephone survey recorded stronger support among residents. However, formal submissions and petitions were overwhelmingly opposed, highlighting a significant divide between different consultation methods. 

In response to the impassioned feedback, Council substantially modified the original plan.

Changes included:

• Increasing resident permits from one per household to unlimited permits;

• Reducing the number of proposed metered parking spaces and limiting them to beachside areas;

• Introducing a staged rollout rather than implementing the scheme all at once. 

A council meeting held on June 30, 2026 was attended by a large contingent of local residents and community groups. 

Presumedly reading the room, councillors voted to reject the proposal, resolving that no parking meters will be introduced at Randwick's beaches and no further action will be taken on the proposal. 

For now, beach parking at Randwick's coastal precincts will remain free, although council has indicated it will continue exploring other ways to manage congestion and fund the maintenance of its popular beaches.