Public Parking Playbook for Rugby World Cup 2011

There will be plenty of parking available for fans during Dunedin’s Rugby World Cup 2011 matches, the Dunedin City Council says.

However, the location of the stadium, and the number of fans attending matches, will mean traditional Dunedin resident behavior of trying to find a park right outside will not be possible.

Deputy Mayor Chris Staynes, chairman of the city’s RWC 2011 Governance Committee, says the Council has worked hard to plan transport and parking options for match days, recognising both are a vital part of providing a successful tournament experience.

Council Transportation Operations Programme Engineer Michael Harrison says there are thousands of parks in the industrial area behind the Dunedin Railway Station with only a short ten-minute walk from there to the Stadium.

A park and ride service is also being provided from the area around the Edgar Stadium, with a bus leaving from Midland Street, outside the Stadium, and taking passengers to the corner of Ward and Wickliffe Streets, just over the bridge from Anzac Avenue, for a $2 fee.

“While we know there is plenty of capacity for cars, we’d like to give fans the following tips,” Michael says.

* If it’s green, don’t park on it. Parking on reserves or other grassed areas such as sportfields, will not be tolerated and you will be ticketed
* Parking in a dangerous, illegal or obstructive manner to get nearer the Stadium is likely to result in your car not being present when you return
* Plan ahead – leave early and enjoy the walk to the Stadium as part of the Tournament experience
* Remember that the greatest amount of gridlock post-match will be in the areas closest to the Stadium – parking further away may mean you get home earlier