Douglas Lane Foreshore Car Park - Proposed Parking Changes

**This consultation is now closed**

Council has received reports from residents and representatives of Chelsea Yacht Club about parking issues in the Douglas Lane, foreshore car park. These include difficulty finding a parking space, cars blocking access routes and anti-social behaviour.

This car park mainly serves visitors to the beach and members of Chelsea Yacht Club. Chelsea Yacht Club is an active community club requiring car parking facilities for regular sailing, sailing instruction, community functions and other club activity. The yacht club is currently undergoing renovations, including installation of lift access and other modifications to improve accessibility and provide accessible amenities.

Council is proposing changes that will help to manage the demand for parking and strike a fair balance between spaces available for beachgoers and activities of the yacht club.

These proposals will help ensure that the parking situation doesn’t detract from visitors’ enjoyment of the beach and newly renovated yacht club.

Council Proposals

Council is proposing to install a parking machine to balance demand across all foreshore car parks. Kingston residents will still be entitled to free parking here through the foreshore parking permit scheme.

Proposed changes include dividing the Douglas Lane car park into sections on a trial basis, with the southern end adjacent to the yacht club’s building proposed to have permit bays for the use of yacht club activities on Saturdays during the summer sailing season, and a small number of bays also reserved on Fridays and Sundays.

Proposed Changes in Detail

1. A payment machine will be installed in the car park and visitors will be required to pay a parking charge of $3.90 hourly or $14.70 daily, Monday to Sunday, 8am – 8pm. Kingston residents can park for free with a foreshore parking permit displayed.
2. The Northern end of the car park (30 spaces) will remain available for general use throughout the year.
3. The Southern end of the car park (25 spaces) will be reserved for yacht club permit holders only on Saturdays from 1 October to 30 April on a trial basis.
4. An additional 6 spaces in the southern end of the car park directly adjacent to the yacht club premises will be reserved for yacht club permit holders only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 October to 30 April on a trial basis.

Consultation on the proposed changes closed 5pm Sunday 7 November.

Feedback from the consultation showed majority support from the community for all of the proposed changes in the car park.