Inner West parking plan puts CPI cap, 30 free visitor permits on budget agenda

Inner West households could receive 30 free visitor permits a year, while resident parking permit increases would be limited to CPI for three years under measures referred to the council’s 2027-28 budget process. A 50 per cent concession for eligible pensioners and concession-card holders would continue.

The measures are proposals for the future budget process, not final charges or adopted budget decisions.

Councillors adopted the revised Inner West Parking Strategy and Public Domain Parking Policy on 25 August. It includes no expansion of parking meters across the local government area and calls for public parking to be replaced when car parks are converted to social housing.

The strategy also directs council officers to investigate public parking through planning agreements, improve bicycle-parking planning and advocate for public transport improvements.

Residents and businesses would have a process to request bicycle parking. Priority areas would include town centres, transport interchanges, parks, libraries and community facilities. The policy also includes investigation of privately owned e-bike charging and parking.

For eligible pensioners and concession-card holders, the proposed continuation of the half-price concession would preserve the existing discount. The CPI limit would apply to resident parking permit fee increases for three years if included in the future budget.

The parking measures affect permit costs, visitor access, parking supply, meters and bicycle parking across the Inner West local government area. Council will consider them through the 2027-28 budget process.