Dunedin motorists have reacted angrily to the latest wave of inner-city parking fee increases, some as high as 56%.
From July 1, fees for leased car parks will increase by between 5.4% and 56.25% in all except two Dunedin City Council-owned car parks.
Motorists are angry about the imminent fee increases, none more so than some with leased parks in the unsealed Station car park at the north end of Dunedin Railway Station, who have called the increases "shocking" and "huge".
Citipark team leader Brent Bachop said the fee increases were to bring off-street car parking in line with other parking fees in the city.
From next month it will cost $2 more per week to lease a park at the Great King St and Upper Moray Pl car parks and $5 more in Lower Moray Pl.
The Filleul and York Pl parks will cost $8 more per week, those in Wall St will cost $4 more, and those in Queen's Gardens, Dowling St and Thomas Burns St will cost $3 more.
A council report recommended no increases for leased parks in the Lorne St, Crawford St and Station car parks.
The council, however, voted to make leased parks in the Station car park $9 more expensive per week, raising them to $25 per week.
The changes are expected to bring in an additional $133,060 per year in revenue.
The money would go into the council's consolidated fund to offset rates, council city environment general manager Tony Avery said.
Shar Briden, of Northeast Valley, who uses the Station car park, said the $9 a week fee increase was "shocking".
"Where am I going to find that?" Miss Briden asked.
"Am I not supposed to eat?"Heather Dunne, of Waverley, who used the same car park, said it was "a huge increase" given the car park "is not covered or secure ... and we cannot use it seven days a week".
Another person, who did not want to be named, said they reacted to the news by "handing in my notice" on their car-park lease.
Asked whether the increase was justified, Mr Avery said the council had decided on an increase for that car park.
Mr Bachop said the increases were due as fees for leased parks had not been reviewed since 2005.
"The increase will bring them into line with private operators and more in line with on-street metered fees," Mr Bachop said.
Two years ago, the council introduced a raft of changes to central city parking which provoked a furious public reaction and, eventually, a partial backdown.
In July 2009, a four-zone parking system was brought in, including fee increases for on-street parking, 153 new pay and display parking machines and the removal of most five-minute parks.
The angry reaction was such that, later in the year, many changes were made, including reducing tariffs and maximum time limits.
Last year, the council also commissioned an independent report into how it got the parking strategy so wrong.
