Council’s Parking Permit Scheme for Echo Point is changing. 

Update on new Parking Permit Scheme

Council has deferred plans to develop the parking precinct at Echo Point, due to the impacts of COVID-19 on the tourist industry.

The Echo Point Parking Precinct Plan, which aims to establish paid coach parking near Echo Point and a new parking permit policy for residents and business, was due to commence early 2020. 

After the severe bushfire season, this was postponed until November 2020. Then, at its September meeting, Council agreed to defer this further until 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  When in 2021 this will launch is yet to be determined.

The new scheme, adopted by Council in August 2019, limits permits to residents and business within the designated parking precinct, and was enacted to help address issues with parking demand and the availability of parking spaces, and improve the balance between resident, visitor, and business parking needs.

Council still believes this is the best way forward to manage the cost of tourism infrastructure. Postponing the implementation and enforcement for the remainder of 2020 will give the tourism industry time to recover following the recent bush fires.

Despite the Blue Mountains being one of the most visited tourist destinations in Australia, Council currently recovers a small amount of revenue from visitors. This means ratepayers are currently subsidising visitor infrastructure.

What is changing?

There are now two schemes – one for residents and one for businesses. Both schemes limit permits to residents and business within the designated parking precinct.

That means all permits issued on the current scheme (issued before 2020) are no longer valid. However, the new scheme is not yet being enforced. 

The new schemes balance resident, visitor, and business parking needs, and improve access to street parking for residents living within the parking precinct.

Read the full Permit Parking Policy

Read the Parking Permit scheme FAQs

Why is it changing?

The Blue Mountains continues to experience increasing numbers of tourists visiting the region and the costs associated with providing visitor facilities across the City continues to grow.

Despite the Blue Mountains being one of the most visited tourist destinations in Australia, Council currently recovers a small amount of revenue from visitors. This means that ratepayers are currently subsidising visitor infrastructure.

Paid parking at key tourism locations will generate income that will be used to fund ongoing maintenance of tourist infrastructure, reducing the cost to ratepayers.

Paid parking in areas of high demand tourist and non-tourist areas is very common, in Australia and internationally. Research shows a very high level of acceptance, and even expectation, of paid parking in tourist destinations.

The previous long-standing scheme also no longer complied with Transport NSW's Permit Parking Guidelines, and the new schemes now bring Council in line with these guidelines.

Who can get parking permits under the new policy?

Residents

Residents who live within the parking precinct are eligible for up to two resident permits if they meet the resident eligibility requirements.
There is an application fee of $36. 

Businesses

Businesses located within the parking precinct are eligible for up to two business permits if:

  • There is no off-street parking on the premises
  • The vehicles must be registered in NSW in the name of the business

Read the full business eligibility requirement.
There is an application fee of $36. 

Look at the parking precinct map.

How do I apply for a permit?

Eligible residents and businesses will receive a new letter from Council with updated information about when you can apply for a permit.

Already submitted an application? We will call you and organise to refund your application fee.

How long is the parking permit valid?

Permits are valid for two calendar years, regardless of when during the year you got the permit. For example if you apply for a new permit in February or July 2021, your permit will be valid until 31 December 2022.