Sunday Parking Limits

Do you like shopping in the central city on Sundays but can never find a car park? We have a proposal that may help you out.

We're thinking of making it easier for you by putting a time limit on pay-and-display and metered parking in the central city. It would still be free but we think it will help free up car parks and make it easier to park on Sundays.

Admittedly people could no longer park in the central city all day - but the fact many do at the moment means lots of people miss out on a park and time spent in the city shopping, dining or walking along the waterfront.

We'd like to know what you think of this idea - see below for ways to give us your views.

Council Transport Planner Stephen Carruthers says there is already a two-hour time limit on Saturday parking in the central city and the proposed Sunday parking time limit would work in the same way.

The time restrictions would apply to 3,400 central city pay-and-display and metered parks from 8.00am - 6.00pm. Most of the pay-and-display and metered parking spaces have a two-hour time limit, although some have a 10-, 30-, 60- or 90-minute time limit.

"The Council introduced free parking in the central city in 1996 to encourage weekend shopping," says Stephen. "We introduced a two-hour limit on Saturdays in 2002 after people started using the parks all day, meaning other shoppers couldn't get a park."

"As the popularity of Sunday shopping in the central city has increased, a similar thing has happened with all-day Sunday parking. Shoppers and visitors who want parking for a shorter time can't get a park and many of them probably get annoyed and go shopping elsewhere. Likewise people who want a park so they can go out for lunch or a leisurely walk along the waterfront also drive away in frustration."

Stephen says the Council's annual central city parking turnover and vacancy surveys show vacancy rates on Sundays are at eight percent, well below the 15 percent target set out in the city's parking policy. A 15 percent vacancy rate is the preferred international standard for managing parking to ensure motorists are likely to find a park.

The Council's long-standing free weekend parking policy will continue to apply under this proposal. Shoppers requiring parks for longer than two hours can park in commercial parking buildings, including $3 parking in eight buildings that are part of the 'In the Know' weekend parking scheme.

Please think about this idea and give us your thoughts on the proposal - you can pick up a submission form from the city's libraries, our service centre in Wakefield Street, or by phoning (04) 499 4444.

Alternatively you can complete the submission form online in the Public Input section of this website. Submissions are due by Wednesday 30 June.