Your time starts now: Chatswood Chase shoppers will need to move fast

Shoppers who stay for more than two hours at Chatswood Chase will be charged parking fees when a trial begins.

The proposed change would see a 2-2.5-hour period of parking cost $3, while a 2.5-3-hour period would set back drivers $5.

The changes will come into effect before May 2026.

The Willoughby Local Planning Panel, which approved the change, said “the decision was made to encourage reduced reliance on private vehicles and promote more sustainable transport options”. 

Three members of the panel voted in favour of the trial, and one — Leah Bulfin — against. Bulfin said “limitation on free car parking is not in the public interest” and that there would be an “unacceptable social impact”. 

On the panel, Bulfin is the only member who is a community representative. The other three — Graham Brown, Robert Montgomery and Christopher Young — are planning experts. 

Image: Michael Fousert via Unsplash