Board's rapid reverse over Port Chalmers parking plan

The Chalmers Community Board has been forced into a backdown over parking in Port Chalmers, as finger-pointing begins over a lack of consultation.

Board acting chairman Steve Walker said he fielded a "barrage" of calls yesterday after the Otago Daily Times reported businesses in the town had not been contacted about parking changes in the town centre.

It was the second failure to consult over parking, after the Dunedin City Council last year received 175 complaints, mainly from angry business owners saying they had not been consulted over changes to inner-city parking.

Yesterday, Mr Walker said he had asked council staff to postpone introducing the Port Chalmers changes, and to remove any new signs already installed, until the matter could be discussed at the board's next meeting, on June 16.

The board would also carry out another round of consultation next week with every business owner and other affected parties.

Board chairwoman Jan Tucker - who is overseas - had attempted to contact businesses, and placed public notices in the town's library and supermarket, but it appeared the message had not got through to most owners.

"If there are concerns that need to be addressed, the community board will bend over backwards to address those concerns. If the wish of the community is to revert back, that's something we would look at.

"Unlike the parking problems that occurred in the city, we as a board want to sort this out as soon as possible," Mr Walker said.

Eight businesses owners told the ODT they were not aware changes to parking were planned. One of them, Barking Fish owner Graham White, said about 10 business owners he had spoken to also had not been consulted.

Board member Trevor Johnson yesterday pointed the finger at council staff.

He said the board had initially sought only a new mobility park outside the town's library, following a request from a member of the public in late 2008.

However, when the board approached the council, it was told by council staff it needed to consider wider parking changes in the town's main street, he said.

Mr Johnson said he was the only board member to vote against the changes that resulted.

"I could see the debacle the city council made [of parking] and I didn't want the same in Port Chalmers... You are never going to please everybody and the status quo should have remained."

He believed the board should now revisit the changes.

"We can't have it affecting people's businesses. As a board, we have to take responsibility for changing it.

"Otherwise, what's the point of the board?"

Council senior traffic engineer Bruce Conaghan confirmed staff recommended to the board more widespread changes, based on complaints to the council about parking in the town.

The board would not necessarily have been aware of those issues when raising the need for a mobility park, and council staff felt there was "an opportunity to tidy everything up" in one move.

The extra changes had been approved by the board, and it was up to them to consult with the community, he said.

However, council staff could have been more proactive in notifying the community once changes were confirmed.

"There's an acknowledgement we didn't get the message out there. I think that's a fair point."

He believed the changes would be beneficial. New signs already installed would remain, while further changes were on hold "until the board makes up their mind".