`Suite' of parking changes on table

The Dunedin City Council's parking officers may be instructed to look the other way when they encounter delivery vehicles parked illegally on loading zones in Dunedin's CBD.

Easing up on delivery drivers is just one part of a council attempt to patch up its new parking regime that caused an uproar when introduced earlier this year.

Announcing the results of a review yesterday, parking review working party chairman Syd Brown said the party had picked up the "poisoned chalice" of parking policy, but he believed 90% of the 150 people who had complained during recent months would be satisfied with the "suite of changes" being recommended.

The recommendations will be considered by an extraordinary meeting of the council on Thursday and, if approved, could be in place within three weeks.

Mr Brown said one of the problems with goods service vehicles was that under the Land Transport Act, goods service vehicle loading zones could only be used by vehicles of 6000kg or more, which ruled out their use by courier vans and other light commercial vehicles.

But, following the lead of the Wellington City Council, the party is recommending the council pass a bylaw to create "authorised vehicle only" parking bays instead.

While that is being done during the next four months, Mr Brown said the council would "issue an instruction" to parking officers to use their discretion over the use of goods service vehicle loading zones "to make sure only genuine loading goods service vehicles are using that zone".

Ultimately, as authorised vehicle zones, they will be available for council-authorised delivery vehicles.

Delivery drivers will be able to obtain a sticker at no cost "as long as you can prove you are in the genuine trade of delivering goods services", Mr Brown said.

Those not authorised to park on the zones, marked with yellow paint, could be fined $40.

Members of the public will have free use of P5s "dotted around the city at the appropriate places" to load and unload.

Transportation planning manager Don Hill said the law restricting loading zones to vehicles of 6000kg or more was "out of step with reality" and related to the days when trucks were commonly used for deliveries.

 

The main changes being recommended to the Dunedin City Council by its parking review working party are:

Parking times

Paid parking in lower Stuart St, from Moray Pl to Castle St; in Cumberland St west side, from St Andrew St to Queens Gardens; in Princes St, from Rattray St to Jetty St: From 4-hour maximum to a 60-min maximum.

Paid parking in George St, from Frederick St to Albany St: from 30-min maximum to 60-min maximum.

Paid parking on Cumberland St east side, from Stuart St to St Andrew St: predominantly 4-hour maximum, with some short-term parking.

Parking charges

George St, from the Octagon to Frederick St, from $2 to $1.50 for 30 mins.

For Moray Pl south of Stuart St, from $3 to $2 an hour.

For Cumberland St, from Stuart St to Queens Gardens, from $1 to $2 an hour.

For Scotland St from $2 to $1 an hour.

For George St, from Albany St to Union St, from $2 to $1 an hour.

For Union St, from George St to Great King St, from $2 to $1 an hour.

For Clark St, from paid parking to free parking.

Parking buildings

Normal charge $2 an hour Monday to Friday from opening until 6pm; then calculated in 15-minute time increments.

Charge for evening parking, Monday to Friday and Saturday parking $1 an hour, calculated in 30-min time increments.

Early bird (before 10am), $1 an hour discount parking in Great King St and Moray Pl YMCA parking buildings while these are under-utilised.

Fringe parking$5 a day parking in parts of Smith St, Haddon Pl, Union St, St Andrew St, Queens Gardens, Crawford St and Stuart St.



 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement