Free parking plan scrutinised

A free parking trial mooted for Tauranga's CBD is to remain on hold as Tauranga City Council research what one councillor describes as far from a simplistic parking 'see saw”.

A decision on the three month trial will not happen until later this year, and if given the go-ahead, may not grace the CBD streets until autumn or winter of next year.


The decision whether or not to trial free parking in the CBD won't be made until later this year.

Tauranga City councillor John Robson says the Mainstreet Tauranga report offered up to council in July is effectively not a business case, and needs more depth.

He says council staff are currently working through this.

Council in July voted against the proposal for a two hour free parking trial starting in August.

The report proposes a three month trial, but a longer time period may be considered following council's in-depth look.

John says the 'We need free parking” message is more complex than the 'very simplistic” argument Mainstreet put forward.

He says there could be ramifications for parking income that should be better considered.

'We have to think about what we are trying to achieve here. The research shows some people talk about cost of parking, others talk about availability of parking.

'If you reduce cost further then it's a bit like a see saw, you are going to increase issues around availability. You then wind up with potentially ending up with a situation where you say ‘Okay we have a shortage of parking we need to build a parking building'.

In July TCC were given eight days to look at a business case that contained no figures, and is set to cost the city $350,000-$400,000 in lost revenue across the three months.

The resolution failed partly because councillors don't think three months is long enough for a proper trial, comparing it with an18 month parking trial undertaken in Rotorua.

John says the argument of making parking free leads to increased demand and does not encompass the half of survey respondents, submitted in July's meeting, complaining they can't get parks.

'It's not as simple as some people would make out. It's a management issue of getting demand and supply in balance.”

Mainstreet Tauranga co-ordinator Sally Cooke is disappointed the proposal was not able to be immediately implemented as a way of helping the city centre revitalisation.

'Obviously we were looking for an initiative that would help our members now.

'We now unfortunately need to wait and see what the report comes back with, and yes obviously we are disappointed we weren't able to get the initiative immediately into the market.”

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8 comments

Availability

Posted on 17-09-2014 11:34 | By YOGI BEAR

That all results from the fact that there isn't enough, when the rules keep on being changed so as developers don't have to provide parking then the consequence sooner or later surfaces, the Public shop elsewhere.


Council need boundaries to their job description

Posted on 17-09-2014 13:07 | By The Tomahawk Kid

The retaillers are being held to ransom by the inept council. If they were to hand over the running to the retailers this would have been resolved by now. Instead we have dozens of councillors, endless debate, endless meetings, thousands of wasted ratepayer dollars all thrown down the toilet because council refuse to cease their meddling in things that should be none of their business. The most important issue at the next council elections should be the call for clear guidelines on where the boundary is for council interference in the lives and business of the population. They have NO boundaries, and consequently able to meddle in things they have no business, aptitude or right to be involved in.


What happened to majority rule?

Posted on 17-09-2014 15:40 | By dgk

Do council decisions have to be unanimous now? Or, does majority decision still reign? For one single councillor to be able to bring TCC to a standstill, it must be unanimous rule nowadays.


Tommy Hawk

Posted on 17-09-2014 16:13 | By YOGI BEAR

No boundaries, that is it, but let me put it another way that is somewhat more incidious, they actually decide there own rules.


parking issues

Posted on 17-09-2014 18:09 | By rosscoo

Rather than council giving free parking they should promote bus service and give incentive for people to use whats there to get people in to the CBD. I.E. bus ticket gets you free coffee or coupons on back of tickets. this eliminates congestion in the city during holidays and peak times.


Rosscoo

Posted on 18-09-2014 09:50 | By Accountable

What congestion?Those of us who are still in business in the CBD would love to have our customers complaining about congestion.That would be the first sign of a busy CBD. But it's very much the opposite.If people are prepared to look at where the car parks are they will almost always find a park within easy walking distance of the shops.In fact it's more difficult to find a park in the evenings because the parking is free.


Just hand the whole thing to retailers

Posted on 18-09-2014 11:00 | By BullShtAlert

Is anyone else sick of this never-ending parking debate? I like the suggestion that the whole parking thing should be handed over to the retailers group. There'd probably still be scrapping and disagreements but at least it would get Council out of it.


BullShtAlert

Posted on 18-09-2014 13:16 | By Accountable

Can you imagine how we the business people of the CBD Feel? All Council needs to do is put parking meters at the Mount and Greerton and everywhere else that should be paying their way. It is commonly known as parking parity. The CBD can no longer be the cities parking cash cow as it is at the moment.So simple isn't it?


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