New Parking Permit Scheme for Echo Point

On 1 January 2020, Council’s Parking Permit Scheme for Echo Point changed. 

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That means all permits issued on the old scheme (issued before 2020) are no longer valid, following endorsement of this policy by the elected Council in August 2019.

There will be a short transition period, and the new scheme will be enforced from 1 April 2020.

The parking precinct is at and around Echo Point, Katoomba and will help address issues with parking demand and the availability of parking spaces, and improve the balance between resident, visitor, and business parking needs.

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 ratepayers are subsidising visitor infrastructure.

Paid parking in areas of high demand (in both 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.

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

Additionally, the old scheme did not comply with the RMS’ Permit Parking Guidelines, and the new schemes brings Council in line with their guidelines.

Detailed information including the full Parking Permit Policy, parking precinct map, and eligibility guidelines are available on Council’s website: www.bmcc.gov.au/parkingpermits.