A council report recommends against a proposal for New Plymouth to introduce one-hour free parking in the CBD in exchange for an extension of paid parking until 7pm.
Cars parked in New Plymouth CBD. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The move was agreed to in principle during long-term plan deliberations in May following a deputation from the Business and Retail Association which was supported by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce.
Association coordinator Michelle Brennan said one-hour free parking would boost the vibrancy in the downtown area during the day and any loss of revenue would be made up in part by the extension of paid parking hours.
Michelle Brennan Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Parking currently costs $2 an hour in the CBD from 9am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and the council earns about $3 million a year from its parking operation - just under half of that from infringement notices.
The report, to be consider by council on Tuesday, says the net loss of revenue due to the introduction one-hour free parking would be up to $965,000 a year - almost three times its original estimate.
It says although a community survey found 84 percent of respondents were in favour of one-hour free parking, 87 percent were opposed to extending paid parking hours to 7pm.
The report recommends staying with the status quo.
It says according to the council's annual community satisfaction survey, dissatisfaction with parking in the city was due to the lack of availability of car parks not the price of parking.
A problem that has been exacerbated by the closure of the council-owned Downtown Parking building due to earthquake risk.
"The one-hour free proposal has the potential to increase vehicle stay time which will in turn, reduce turnover and decrease parking availability, thereby exacerbating community dissatisfaction with the lack of availability of car parking," the report said.
It went on to say that the cost of the initiative, particularly without an extension of paid parking until 7pm, was high and would likely require rate increases to address the funding shortfall.
The report recommends the $1m for the free parking proposal, sourced from the Covid-19 and Economic Development Reserve, be set aside for central city support through to 30 June 2024.