Newington Parking Restrictions

An SEPS is designed to reduce the impact of event parking from Sydney Olympic Park on nearby areas such as Newington and parts of Silverwater. It aims to reduce noise and traffic, as it is expected that fewer people will rely on their cars to commute events, and encourages visitors to use public transport.

However, an SEPS may also shift parking demand to areas outside the scheme. Residents in the SEPS area closer to Sydney Olympic Park may see limited benefit during smaller events that do not trigger SEPS. It may also create an inconvenience for some residents who are less affected now but still need to follow the new rules.

Council will only proceed with an SEPS if the whole of Newington and the idenitifed parts of Silverwater are included in the scheme. Council is mindful that applying the scheme in only parts of the area will lead to parking issues shifting elsewhere.

No, an SEPS does not change existing parking rules, such as No Parking or No Stopping restrictions.

It only reduces the allowable parking time on streets that currently permit parking for more than two hours when the SEPS is activated (permit holders are exempt).
 

Smaller events happen more often and generally don’t create the same traffic and parking issues as larger events. The 60,000 threshold helps clearly identify major events that are likely to need the scheme. Only the main stadium and the full showgrounds can host events of this size. Using an SEPS more frequently to include smaller events could create more inconvenience for Newington residents and their visitors.

If an SEPS goes ahead, upcoming activation dates will be published on a dedicated Council webpage approximately three months in advance. We recommend checking these dates early when planning your event to avoid restrictions and additional visitor permit costs. Please note that the SEPS would operate during the entire Easter Show period.

Permits are issued for a specific zone only. This helps manage demand and ensures parking is shared fairly across the area, rather than concentrating in streets closer to Sydney Olympic Park.

Preschools and childcare centres are considered as businesses when it comes to applying for permit(s). 

Standard exemptions for mobility parking permit holders apply.

Council is required under legislation to publicly exhibit all fees and charges. Typically this is done once per year with the public exhibition of the proposed fees and charges for the upcoming financial year. This process has just concluded for FY26/27 and as the proposed new fee of $50 per visitor parking permit scratch book (10 visitor parking permits) was not included, we are seeking community feedback as part of the public exhibition of the proposed SEPS. All other fees for residential and business parking permits have already been exhibited as part of the 2026/27 City of Parramatta Fees and Charges public exhibition process.

We recognise that this will be a significant change if the proposal proceeds and we want to ensure everyone understands the details of the proposal and has the opportunity to provide feedback before any decision is made.

There are around 2,800 households, as well as a public school and many businesses within the SEPS area. To reach everyone, we are using a range of communication methods:

• A project webpage with all key information (the page you are currently viewing)
• Flyer/factsheet letterbox drop to all households and businesses in the propoed SEPS area
• Corflute signs placed on every street and at key gathering locations
• An in-person drop-in session on Saturday 11 July 2026 at Newington Community Centre (10am-2pm)
• A targeted social media campaign for people in the proposed SEPS area
• Translated flyers in Chinese and Korean for download under the Resource section on this page 

If you know someone who may be impacted but has not heard about the proposal, please let them know so they can have their say.

Only visitor parking permits need to be displayed, as they are physical permits.

All other parking permit types are electronic. Once purchased, vehicle registrations are recorded in the Council system and can be checked electronically by rangers during patrols.
 

Electronic parking permits do not need to be replaced once purchased, as they are recorded digitally in the Council system.

Lost visitor permits will not be replaced, as Council cannot confirm whether they have already been used. This helps prevent misuse.
 

Parking permits can be renewed each year at the time of purchase and are valid for 12-months from this date.

If you need to update the vehicle registration associated with a parking permit (e.g if you sell your vehicle and purchase a new one), Council can transfer the parking permit to the new vehicle free of charge. Please advise Council immediately via contacting Council on 02 9806 5050 if your vehicle has changed so details can be updated – evidence is required and the current parking permit expiry date will not change.

Scratch-card visitor parking permit booklets are proposed because they make it easier for residents to have multiple visitors at the same time during Special Event Parking Scheme (SEPS) periods. Residents can give a scratch-card parking permit to each visitor, so several visitors can park on the street at once. In contrast, the standard transferable visitor parking permit can only be used by one car at a time during restricted hours, which doesn’t work well when parking is limited.

Scratch-card visitor parking permits also help prevent misuse. Each scratch-card visitor parking permit can only be used once and is valid for the date scratched out. This helps make sure parking is shared fairly. This approach supports the aim of the scheme - to manage parking demand and reduce traffic impacts during major events, which happens more often in this area than in other parts of the LGA.

The permit fee helps cover the cost of running the scheme, including installing signage, processing applications, providing visitor permits, and managing enforcement. It is also consistent with Council’s existing Fees and Charges for parking permits.

For more details on proposed fees, you can refer to the Report to Council.

No. You only need a permit if you or your visitors need to park on the street for more than 2-hours during SEPS-activated periods. If you can use off-street parking or don’t need extended on-street parking during SEPS-activated periods, a permit is not required.

The scheme is designed to reduce parking pressures during major events and improve overall access for the local community. If the scheme proceeds, there are several ways you can plan ahead and manage SEPS periods when permit limits are reached:

• Using off-street parking such as garages or driveways
• Arranging private or commercial parking for additional vehicles
• Informing visitors or staff in advance so they can plan alternative transport such as public transport, cycling or carpooling where suitable

We recognise that every household and business operates differently, and these changes may require some adjustment. Your feedback is important in helping Council understand where additional support may be needed.

There are two types of SEPS signs.

Entry signs will be installed at six entry points to the SEPS area. These larger signs (either 1 m × 2 m or 1.5 m × 3 m) include changeable time plates to show when SEPS is in operation.

Repeater signs will be placed along local streets. These are smaller (650 mm × 450 mm) and remind drivers that they are in a SEPS area and a 2-hour parking limit will apply when SEPS is activated. See below for a size comparison with a standard No Stopping sign.

To clearly inform drivers and support enforcement under NSW Road Rules, all 467 signs are needed. Repeater signs need to be placed regularly along streets (at least every 200 metres) and after key points such as intersections or roundabouts to ensure they are easy to see and understand.

Council has undertaken a significant amount of compliance activities in the area to support the implementation of new parking restrictions, ensure road rules are followed and help to minimise event impacts on residents. In the 2025 calendar year, a total of 703 infringements were issued in Newington, predominantly during events. Over 500 infringements were issued for vehicles obstructing pedestrian ramps or stopping on footpaths and nature strips. Additionally, more than 100 infringements were issued for 'No Parking' and 'No Stopping' offences, including parking within 10 metres of an intersection.