In recent weeks, Wellington City Council has sparked significant debate with its proposal to introduce paid parking in select suburban centre shopping precincts. The move is aimed at managing high parking demand, but the proposal has stirred up a storm of opinions among business owners, residents, and local leaders.
Background and Proposal Overview
On February 8, the Wellington City Council outlined its agenda for the Long-Term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee. The proposal suggests implementing parking fees in the shopping precincts of Island Bay, Johnsonville, Kilbirnie, Newlands, and Tawa. The rationale behind this move is to better manage high parking demand, particularly in situations where occupancy consistently exceeds 85%, turnover is low, duration of stay regularly exceeds current restrictions, and non-compliance is high.
The council acknowledges the community's concerns and appreciates the overwhelming response received. Bernadette Pallister (Tawa BID Manager), along with Jill Day from the Tawa Community Board, represented these concerns to the councillors at a committee meeting on 15 February 2024.
Community Response and Arguments Against Paid Parking
The proposal has faced strong opposition, with one compelling argument being the findings from the Tawa Business Group's 2019 parking report. According to this report, parking occupancy in Tawa peaked at 73% between 10 am - 12 pm. With the onset of COVID-19, parking demand decreased significantly, only recently returning to pre-pandemic levels, which are well below the 85% threshold for triggering paid parking.
Less than 24 hours before the meeting, the council provided a projected revenue flow, estimating that the introduction of paid parking could generate $781,000 per year in Tawa alone. This projection was based on an hourly rate of $5, reflecting current rates in Wellington CBD. However, the business community argues that this rate is too high for suburban areas, citing Porirua's introduction of paid parking at $1 to $2 per hour and the resultant customer and staffing issues faced by local businesses.
Alternative Proposal and Council's Response
Councillor Ben McNulty proposed an alternative approach at the meeting, suggesting that rather than specifically targeting five suburbs, the paid parking proposal be rolled out across all suburbs. The minutes from the meeting indicate that the council plans to include revenue from suburban parking fees in the Long-Term Plan and has requested detailed information on which suburbs will be affected, the hourly rate fees, and the phased implementation.
Community Engagement and Future Meetings
As the debate over paid parking in Wellington's suburban centres continues, the community remains united on the potential impacts of this proposed change. The forthcoming consultation on Wellington City Council’s Long-Term Plan promises to be a crucial platform for residents and business owners to voice their concerns and contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding this contentious issue. The consultation goes live from Friday 12 April through to Monday 13 May 2024, and further information about how to submit your concerns about the proposal will be available then.
The final decision rests in the hands of the council, and the outcome will undoubtedly shape the future of parking policies in Wellington's suburbs.