New charges for the motor vehicle parking space levy apply from 1 July 2003. The objective of the levy, introduced in 1992, is to discourage car use and decrease congestion and pollution in Sydney's prime business districts.

The area covered by the Act includes the business districts of Sydney, North Sydney, Milson's Point (category 1 areas) and Parramatta, Chatswood, St Leonards and Bondi Junction (category 2 areas). A Treasury factsheet with details of the areas involved is available.

The levy increased in Sydney, North Sydney and Milson's Point to $840 p.a. per space. A $420 p.a. per space rate applies in the four other areas. The levy is exempt from GST and in future it will be automatically adjusted to reflect movements in the consumer price index.

The Parking Space Levy Act 1992 provides the legislative basis for administrative arrangements to collect the levy, which is payable by owners of off-street parking spaces. Exemptions are provided for residential parking on the premises, disabled parking and various other classes of parking space uses.

Persons in public sector positions who have an entitlement to use one or more parking spaces are specifically required (s.17 of the Act) to pay the levy from their remuneration. This includes Chief and Senior Executive Service officers, statutory officers, staff in Ministers' offices and other persons in public sector positions who are provided with a parking space under their employment arrangements.

It would be appreciated if you would bring this information to the attention of all appropriate officers within your administration and ensure that remuneration packages are adjusted accordingly.

(signed)

Brendan O'Reilly
Acting Director General