After an hour of discussion around the table in Queenstown yesterday, a raft of parking changes in the resort's CBD was passed by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, despite vehement opposition from the public.
It took almost 90 minutes to get through the public forum at yesterday's meeting, during which five of the 19 members of the public addressed councillors about proposed changes to the resort's traffic and parking.
All were opposed to the plans, described by infrastructure principal planner Tony Pickard in his report as "bold moves''.
They included prohibiting camper vans from parking in the CBD and changing the time limits on eight parks in Duke St, six in Athol St and all of Shotover St from P30 to P15.
Former mayor Warren Cooper was among those critical of the plans.
He told the council his interest in the subject had spanned 45 years and "not a single car park'' had been provided for the community by the council in the last 15 "which is ... an absolute bloody disgrace''.
Mr Cooper said he walked the town yesterday to understand how reducing the time limits for parks would affect visitors and residents.
Mr Cooper implored the council to "let this nonsense'' lie on the table until larger issues around traffic and supporting infrastructure were dealt with.
Businessman Kim Wilkinson took particular issue with the removal of 15 car parks from Marine Parade - replaced by those in the Church St parking building, because "nobody is asking for those car parks to be removed''.
While Mr Pickard's report said all actions were reversible, Mr Wilkinson said that was not.
DowntownQT general manager Steve Wilde said the incorporated society had asked for the decision on the Marine Parade car parks to be deferred until a comprehensive plan was in place.
The council agreed on an amended recommendation: inplementing a "trial'' in which CBD car parks will be grouped into bays and no return times to the same bay will be enforced across the town centre, starting with the CBD.
Camper vans will be prohibited from CDB parks and shorter limits on the parks in Duke, Athol and Shotover Sts will only apply between 3pm and 6pm from July 1 to October 31.
The council sought a report including investigating parking time limits, after Cr Scott Stevens suggested enforcement should be extended to 8pm, rather than 6pm.
