Randwick City Council has released a proposal that could see parking meters installed at Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar, Little Bay, La Perouse and Yarra Bay. What makes this different from the metered beaches further north:local households would be exempt from paying for parking through a permit system.
The practical effect is straightforward.Up to 84% of beach visitors are from outside the Randwick local government area, with visitation rates highest in La Perouse (84%), Yarra Bay (78%), Little Bay (77%) and Clovelly (70%). Meanwhile,Randwick Council manages these seven popular beach areas and spends around $23.5 million each year maintaining them, with costs covering lifeguard services, beach cleaning, rubbish collection, park maintenance, coastal infrastructure and public amenities.
The council's argument is a familiar one: those who benefit most should share the cost.At Coogee Beach alone, 1,781 parking spaces have an 88% occupancy rate on summer weekends, with 4,700 vehicles a day staying for an average of 203 minutes each. When the demand is that intense, charging visitors while protecting residents starts to look like a pragmatic way to manage both parking pressure and the budget.
The proposal would bring Randwick's beaches into line with other Sydney coastal areas such as Bondi, Manly, Bronte, Dee Why and Watsons Bay, where paid beach parking has been in place for many years.It costs $10 per hour to park at Manly Beach, $11.60 at Bondi Beach. Randwick hasn't set its rates yet, but similar schemes have become standard across Sydney's most visited beaches.
The other side of this coin deserves real consideration. The drive down to the beach should not become a luxury good.Beachgoers worry that paid parking will price people out of a simple summer escape. Beach access in Australia sits alongside public education and library services in people's understanding of what a democratic society owes its citizens. Charging to park at Coogee or Clovelly, even with a permit system for locals, feels like creeping privatisation of something that should remain open to all.
Randwick City Council has started a six-week community consultation period from 4 March 2026, and feedback will be reported to the council in mid-2026 to help make a decision.Subject to community feedback and council approval, meters could be installed in late 2026 and 2027.Council is currently considering whether additional temporary permits could be provided for residents to give to tradies, carers or visitors, which could be particularly relevant for seniors who might have regular carers or family members visiting.
This is not a done deal, despite what the headlines suggest. The permit system for residents shows council is trying to find middle ground between revenue and access. But reasonable people will disagree on whether that balance is the right one. The real question is whether charging visitors to park at beaches is fundamentally fair, or whether it closes the gate on something that should belong to everyone.