Parking time limits and restrictions could be changed across Windsor, South Windsor, Richmond and North Richmond under recommendations now open for public comment.
Hawkesbury City Council is inviting residents, businesses, commuters and visitors to respond to the findings of a comprehensive parking study before submissions close on Sunday, September 20.
The study examined public and private parking, including on-street spaces and off-street car parks, and considered how parking is used by shoppers, workers, business owners, residents and commuters.
Its central finding is that the four town centres generally have enough parking spaces to meet current demand.
Rather than constructing additional parking, the study recommends changing the distribution of parking time limits and restrictions to better match the different ways spaces are used.
This could mean adjusting the balance between short-stay spaces for customers, longer-stay parking for workers and commuters, and unrestricted parking.
Separate parking improvement plans have been prepared for Windsor, South Windsor, Richmond and North Richmond showing the proposed changes in each centre.
The study does not recommend introducing paid parking or residential and business parking-permit schemes.
It also found that the existing number of loading zones was generally adequate and that additional loading zones were not required.
The supply of accessible parking was considered sufficient, although existing spaces need to be reviewed to ensure they comply with current standards. The study identified off-street car parks as the preferred locations for accessible spaces.
One notable finding was that there are no public electric-vehicle charging spaces in any of the four town centres.
The report identified off-street car parks as the safest and most accessible locations for future electric-vehicle parking and charging facilities.
Taxi zones were found to have low occupancy, suggesting some spaces currently reserved for taxis may not be making the best use of limited town-centre kerb space.
Council-owned and managed car parks will also need to be reviewed to determine whether they meet relevant design and compliance requirements.
The parking study was commissioned following a Council resolution in February 2022.
Community consultation was undertaken during its preparation to gather information about local parking experiences and concerns.
Council resolved on August 11 to place the proposed changes on public exhibition for 28 days.
Feedback received during the exhibition will be considered when Council prepares a final implementation plan and budget proposal for possible inclusion in its 2027–28 Operational Plan.
The final plan will first be presented to the Hawkesbury Local Transport Forum for technical review and advice before recommendations return to Council.
Residents and businesses are being encouraged to examine the improvement plan for their individual town centre rather than relying solely on the study’s general findings, as proposed time-limit and restriction changes vary by location.
Submissions can be made through Council’s Hawkesbury Car Parking Study consultation page.
The full studies and individual improvement plans for Windsor, South Windsor, Richmond and North Richmond are also available through that page.
A printed copy can be inspected at Council’s Administration Building, 366 George Street, Windsor, between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Written submissions can be emailed to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or posted to the General Manager, Hawkesbury City Council, PO Box 146, Windsor NSW 2756.
Council advises that submissions may be included in a future Council business paper and could therefore become publicly available. People lodging feedback should consider carefully what personal information they include.
Submissions close on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
