Parking charges under review

A parking option which could affect 281 long-stay car parks on Ballarat and Boundary Sts will be discussed at the Queenstown Lakes District Council utilities committee meeting next week.

QLDC infrastructure strategy manager Denis Mander said the council was considering improved parking for shoppers and short-stay parkers, with the aim of enhancing access to the CBD, in line with the council's long-term transportation strategy.

"One of the main issues for the council when considering improved CBD access was reducing the more immediate impact the proposal would have on an important section of the community.

"We are talking about potentially affecting a number of our CBD workers and that's a discussion we need to have before any decisions are made," Mr Mander said.

On the table for discussion was a proposal for Ballarat St charges to increase by 50c to $1 per hour, with no cap.

A new 50c-an-hour charge could be introduced to Boundary St, with a cap of $2.50 a day.

An exemption from fees for all mobility permit-holders, allowing them to park anywhere, any time, for nothing, was also proposed.

If the proposed changes were adopted by the committee, they would go into the draft annual plan for wider community consultation and input. The draft plan would be released for submissions in April.

Mr Mander said the council accepted any change would rely on the introduction of "good, alternative travel choices", in particular CBD commuters.

The pricing options being considered could be introduced only together with improved travel options, which included "car pool incentives" and improved bus services.

The Otago Regional Council has held discussions with Connectabus to enhance bus services in the Wakatipu Basin by July, including an "express" Arrowtown service and services to Kelvin Heights and Arthurs Point.

"Better bus services, priority spaces for car-poolers and the anticipated rise in fuel prices will give our community more incentive and more options to leave the car at home or car-pool," Mr Mander said.

However, the council had to balance the inconvenience of changing travel considerations for some with improved access to the CBD businesses for locals and visitors during daytime.

Options other than passenger transport, as an alternative for the car, also needed to be developed as part of the proposal, he said.

"Included in the package to be considered by the committee next week is the development of secure bicycle parking, and discounted car-pooling parking spaces," Mr Mander said.

Although it was not a key driver for the proposal, the options could also help improve parking debt.

Through the acquisition of the Boundary St car park in the 1990s and the construction of the Church St underground car park, the level of debt for parking activities was sitting at $1.1 million and the reality was parking operations were costing the community.

"In the current economic climate, heading into the annual plan consultation, it is certainly another factor to consider," he said.