New Metered Parking can bring Practical Benefits, as well as Cutting Rates

The creation of an additional 100 metered car parking spaces in New Plymouth’s CBD will bring practical benefits to the public, while helping to reduce rates at the same time.

The plan to change some existing time-limited spaces, loading zones and redundant bus stops into metered car parks was signalled in February as part of New Plymouth District Council’s in-depth review of its levels of service.

The first report on the proposal will be considered by NPDC’s Policy Committee at its meeting next week.

“The community has consistently told us through surveys and general feedback that the availability of long-term parking in and around the CBD needs improving, which is what this proposal will address,” says Manager Roading Assets Max Aves.

“There will also be financial benefits which will ease the pressure on rates.”

As well as reducing the anticipated total rates requirement through efficiencies and cost savings within its operations, the Council is working on growing its revenue stream – including an increase in the number of metered car parks.

The extra parking revenue will help in the Council’s goal of minimising the total rates increase for 2010/11, which is currently projected at just over $6 extra per month on the average rates bill (bringing the average monthly residential rate to $137.83).

“Increasing the number of metered spaces will bring some practical benefits for the public,” says Mr Aves.

“Many of the proposed metered spaces will come from existing time-limited spaces, such as P5s and P10s – which means people will be able to leave their car for a couple of hours instead of the five or 10 minutes on the sign.

“And if the Council selects some spaces that are currently free-parking with no time limits, this will improve the turnover of cars in high-demand areas near the CBD for people who want to shop or do business there.

“Right now we’re identifying the parking spots that could be changed to metered car parks, and these will be consulted on with the general public and the directly affected property and business owners.”

If the proposal is approved by next week’s Policy Committee and then by the full Council, the proposal will go through a public consultation to get the community’s feedback.

“We’ll be putting more than 100 parking spaces up for consideration as we expect that some will be crossed off the list for valid reasons,” says Mr Aves.

“At present the target is for an additional 100 metered parking spaces in and around the CBD’s streets.”