Where does pay parking money go?

Pay parking is operating in Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads.

From 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2024 it generated more than $32.4 million. Operating costs for this time were $10.1 million.

During this time pay parking revenue of $17.3 million was allocated to:

Infrastructure maintenance costs across the Shire - $4.41 million
Capital works for Byron Bay - $4.96 million
Capital works for implementation of projects for the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan - $2.26 million
Capital works outside the Byron Bay - $5.68 million

Note: More than $6.6 million of pay parking funds are held in reserve.

This is in line with Council’s resolution that after costs:

Brunswick Heads

Pay parking was introduced to Brunswick Heads in September 2024.

In mid-April 2025, the scheme had raised more than $380,000.

Set-up and operating expenses were just over $1 million.

The total revenue from pay parking from 2023 to 2024 was $5,572,678.

Operating expenses were $877,778.

Allocation	Amount
Infrastructure maintenance – shire wide	$732,306
Capital works – Byron Bay	$43,129
Capital works – Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan	$318,486
Capital works – outside Byron Bay	$535,615
Funds in reserve	$4,994,900

The total revenue from pay parking from 2022 to 2023 was $4,648,644.

Operating expenses were $1,050,802.

Allocation	Amount
Infrastructure maintenance – shire wide	$795,905
Capital works – Byron Bay	$892,736
Capital works – Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan	$933,467
Capital works – outside Byron Bay	$1,193,726
Funds in reserve	$3,597,842

The total revenue from pay parking from 2021 to 2022 was $2,744,352.

Operating expenses were $827,871.

Allocation	Amount
Infrastructure maintenance – shire wide	$128,893
Capital works – Byron Bay	$224,591
Capital works – Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan	$656,527
Capital works – outside Byron Bay	$261,927
Funds in reserve	$1,916,481