New charges for the motor vehicle parking space levy apply from 1 July 2007. The levy was introduced in 1992 to discourage car use and decrease congestion and pollution in Sydney's prime business districts.

The areas covered by the Parking Space Levy Act 1992 (the Act) include the business districts of Sydney, North Sydney and Milsons 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 at: www.osr.nsw.gov.au/

The levy now applying to Category 1 areas is $930 pa per space and $460 pa per space in Category 2 areas. The levy is exempt from GST and is adjusted annually to reflect movements in the Consumer Price Index.

The Act 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.

A. S Smith
Acting Director General