23 July 2018

Marlborough District Council is considering moving to a parking system using vehicle plate numbers for Blenheim’s central business district.

The current Duncan “lollipop” parking meters can be subject to vandalism and are nearing the end of their useful life.

After considering systems used in Levin, Palmerston North and Tauranga, towns with similar demographics to Blenheim, staff are recommending a ‘pay by plate’ system to replace the on-street meters and also eventually the pay and display meters in off-street carparks as well.

The new machines operate without the use of a ticket - the customer enters their vehicle plate number and required parking time in the payment machine. There are also mobile phone apps available to allow customers to pay or top-up parking charges by using their mobile device.

Council’s Assets and Services Committee was told last week there are currently 328 Duncan meters across the CBD.

In the new system, 41 new payment terminals are needed to replace the Duncan meters with a ticketless system. These would be placed on the pavements and spaced to ensure an average of eight parking spaces per payment terminal.

Councillors agreed to a staged roll-out for Blenheim, starting with Market, Queen and Scott streets, and the Maxwell Street block from Harvey Norman to Market Street. Students will be employed to help people learn how to use the new machines.

Councillor Brian Dawson, who holds the portfolio for parking, says a lot of work has gone into consideration of the proposal.

“The changes are going to require some adjustment but I’m confident that can be dealt with,” he says.

The changes will cost about $220,000.

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