Motorists might keep having to pay for parking in central Oamaru, and it will cost them considerably more if the Waitaki District Council decides to install new pay-and-display parking machines.
The council's committee of the whole (which comprises all councillors) yesterday recommended new pay-and-display machines be installed.
It rejected an alternative of a 12-month trial of free parking, time limited and strictly enforced.
However, that is a recommendation to the council's meeting on November 15, when the final decision will be made.
Staff recommended the ageing pay-and-display machines, which are becoming increasingly difficult to repair, be replaced.
With the new machines, on-street parking fees would increase from 60c an hour to $1.50 and off-street from 40c to $1.20.
All-day parking would cost $4 a day, instead of the present $2, from July 1.
The North Otago Advisory Board of the Chamber of Commerce wanted a 12-month trial of free parking, with strictly enforced time limits, instead of replacing the machines.
Free parking could add $10 a year to rates in the Oamaru and Corriedale wards.
Cr Geoff Keeling said of the 1700 spaces in Oamaru, half were free.
He said those who did not use parking should not have to pay for it through rates.
However, Cr Peter Garvan urged the council to trial free parking.
Board member Dan Lewis questioned whether installing new machines was the right decision.
Free parking would cost the community less in the long term.
He said about $1 million paid in fees by motorists over five years would go out of town.
Free parking would keep that money in people's pockets and it could be spent in local businesses and turn over spaces more frequently.
Putting in new machines was a decision for the long term, when there was an opportunity to look at a fresh approach.
He acknowledged the time limits would mean more enforcement, but this would create jobs in Oamaru.
He predicted free parking would be a success.
"All we are asking is for a 12-month trial, an opportunity to try something different," he said.
"If it doesn't work, what have we really lost?"
Assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said staff recommended new pay-and-display parking machines, "user-pays" as an appropriate way to recover the cost of parking, which was council policy.
The present machines could stay in place until July 1, when new ones and increased charges could be introduced. Beyond then, there was a risk machines could be out of action and income lost, he said.
