Free parking at two Oamaru car parks has come to an end.
At an additional meeting of the Waitaki District Council yesterday, councillors voted for an early return to paid parking at the Medway and Steward St parks from today. Free parking will continue in all other areas until September 30.
The council turned off all its metered parking during the Covid-19 lockdown and then extended the free parking initiative to the end of September to support local businesses.
However, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the council had received a lot of feedback from members of the public who had not been able to find parking spaces near the Oamaru Hospital and the Waitaki Aquatic Centre and had missed, or turned up late for, appointments and swimming-related activities as a result.
"Councillors were very reluctant to return to paid parking earlier than expected, but too much all-day parking in the two car parks has left us with no choice," Mr Kircher said.
"There have been repeated requests to leave space for those who need it to visit shops, the hospital and the pool, but to no avail."
Signs would be placed at entrances to both car parks and on parking meters, informing motorists of the early return to paid parking.
The council was "still committed" to investigating free parking options in Oamaru after September 30, Mr Kircher said.
"We’ve supported the business community, we’ve supported the wider community with free parking and now’s the time to fine-tune that a little bit, and maybe work on what the long-term solution will be," he said.
Councillors also voted in favour of funding a parking reserve shortfall of $88,000, due to the free parking initiative, from the council’s $2 million support and stimulus fund.
"This is being done because of Covid and to try and make sure that we are giving our business community as much opportunity as possible," he said.
