Dunedin drivers could soon face a huge hike in parking costs, with a $5-an-hour charge mooted for George St, and $2 or $3 an hour for the rest of the inner city.
The current charge is $1.80 an hour, with fees reducing and length of stay increasing the further a park is from the main street. Limited parking along George St is free between the Octagon and Frederick St.
The new maximum outstrips maximum parking prices in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
The proposal concerns retailers, who are worried the rise in parking costs will keep shoppers away from the city.
But Cr Michael Guest, chairman of the Dunedin City Council committee set to discuss the issue on Monday, said yesterday the proposal was an ‘‘extreme position'' and he would not be surprised if there were changes.
‘‘I'm on the side of the commercial people. It's certainly not a foregone conclusion.''
A report to Monday's planning and environment committee says the provision of parking in the central city could ‘‘greatly influence'' activity in the city, and economic well-being.
But, in the past 10-20 years, the negative effects of encouraging people to drive had been recognised, it says. They included congestion, air pollution, noise, and obesity.
There was a move towards ‘‘travel demand management'', through limiting parking or increasing charges to make driving less attractive, and promote more sustainable transport options like public transport.
Apart from the parking cost rises, which would require the installation of parking meters in George St south of Frederick St, the strategy suggests allowing lease parking to reflect market rates, supplying free time-restricted parking to suit business needs, and enforcing those limits.
As well, there would be rises in the cost of resident parking permits to $180 a year, and new bicycle parking facilities.
The changes would be implemented by November 1.
City retailers spoken to yesterday were concerned shoppers would go elsewhere to make their purchases.
Pinkalilly's Parties owner Diane Garrick said some people already patronised a shop similar to hers in South Dunedin because the parking was easier there. A rise in the price of parking would only make it worse for her lower Stuart St business.
‘‘I know that for a fact. The parking situation round here is difficult.''
The manager of Moray Pl business Centrefire McCarthy's, Howard Halliday, had the same concern. Both he and Moray Pl hairdresser Selwyn Grave said while commuters might be inclined to take buses, people shopping would not.
‘‘It's ridiculous,'' Mr Grave said of the plan.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said parking policy had to allow people to come to the city to visit businesses there. Turnover of parking was important, but it was ‘‘a very, very fine balance'', and there was a danger of just shifting the problem.
‘‘I think we can all applaud what they're trying to achieve. It's just whether they're going to achieve that, or just put prices up and annoy people.''
Cr Guest said the changes were part of a bylaw review required by the Government. There was clear evidence of near-misses and accidents in the main street from people ‘‘cruising'', looking for parks.
The higher costs would stop that, he said, and would also help get people to use parking buildings, which were under-utilised.
Parking building fees were to increase from $1.60 to $2 an hour.
Mr Guest said the cost increases in the report were extreme. ‘‘I'm at the other end of the spectrum.''
He expected there would be changes after public consultation, which would take place in the next two months.
