NSW drivers were slugged a record $15.4 million, or $496,831 a day, in parking fines in August - as much as Brisbane motorists are hit with in a year.
Following a budget move to increase all traffic-related penalties by 12.5 per cent across the state, this financial year is on track to be the most expensive ever for motorists, with $57 million in fines expected to be issued from July to October in 2012-13 compared with $52 million in the same period last financial year.
Nearly two-thirds of all fines in the state come from a handful of the richest councils. Sydney City Council issued $38 million in fines in the financial year to June 2012, compared to Melbourne City Council which made $37.3 million and Brisbane, which issued $15.1 million worth of penalties.
Sydney was followed by Waverley with $9.3 million; North Sydney, $6.8 million; Parramatta, $5.3 million; Randwick, $5 million and Woollahra, $4.8 million.
While major councils including Newcastle, Parramatta, Leichhardt, North Sydney, Liverpool and Fairfield have signalled major changes to address parking concerns, beachside councils such as Waverley and Randwick said enforcement was valuable to residents who would otherwise have nowhere to park.
"As well as the residents, council needs to cater for our many visitors. On a hot day, up to 50,000 people come to Bondi to visit our beautiful beach and hope to be able to find a parking spot," a Waverley Council spokeswoman said.
A Randwick spokesman said there was so much demand for parking the council received regular requests from local residents and businesses to send rangers while a Sydney Council spokeswoman said parking was at a premium in the city.
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