Daily and weekly rates are being scrapped at council-owned car parks and a four-hour maximum stay will apply at Queenstown Gardens and One Mile, the final phase of plans to change parking habits within the CBD.
The changes apply to 190 spaces, 75% of which are allocated to businesses, including Mountain Scene and Otago Daily Times.
Body Sanctum owner Judi Sneddon said the changes, which take effect on Sunday, could affect her mobile massage business.
Her concern is not being able to meet agreements with hotels, as therapists need to drive to appointments.
''It is very disappointing and frustrating finding a solution.''
She leases three spots at Ballarat St A car park. Fees are $45 per car, per month.
Monthly fees at Queesntown Rec Ground, $210.94 every quarter, are also being stopped.
IT firm Focus uses a mix of permit and weekly parking for its 12 engineers.
Account manager Karen Iremonger said the changes would affect business.
''We have modelled using the bus, but we can't meet business needs with the bus service, it is not practical in our line of work.''
She does not disagree with the council's reasons for the changes but questioned the logistics and how they had been introduced.
''There doesn't seem to be any viable alternative other than the bus, which, in our line of work, doesn't work.''
Destination Queenstown leases two car parking spaces.
Chief executive Graham Budd confirmed it had not found a solution.
''It is a bit frustrating as it will cost us significantly more.''
DowntownQT general manager Steve Wilde said the council should not have to provide businesses with car-parking options.
''That is actually ratepayers subsidising car parks. All the businesses paying $40 a month would be saying, 'Well that is not right', because that is public land that is being sort of rented on the cheap.''
Ms Sneddon confirmed she would have paid a higher fee.
Council property and infrastructure general manager Peter Hansby was not available for comment yesterday.
Council communications and engagement manager Naell Crosby-Roe said options were considered, including ''removing or changing previous provisions, but removing the parking permits was chosen as part of the final mix''.
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As long as the QLDC continue with their totally inadequate car park requirements for new buuildings Queenstown will be hampered by lack of parking.
Examples are the recently approved Kawerau Falls hotel with 260 rooms, who knows how many staff and 73 car parks. Just how do council think staff will get there at 6 am? Then another new hotel planned for downtown that has over 100 rooms but needs no parking because there is plenty of public parking nearby.
QLDC may have the DCC disease and think everyone should ride a bike or catch a bus, but that is really a head in the sand attitude that will inevitably damage Queenstowns growth prospects.