2 July 2004

Central Wellington parking charges up from 12 July

Wellington City Council parking charges will increase and minimum parking fees apply from 12 July. Parking will remain free on weekends.

The following changes cover all Council on-street parking and the Civic Square and Michael Fowler Centre carparks.

Most $2 and $3 per hour parking charges will increase by $1 per hour, although the new $4 area will include some of the existing $2 area. These areas will have a minimum charge of $1. $1 per hour parking will increase to $1.50 an hour and have a minimum fee of 50 cents.

The net result should be $2 million of additional Council revenue.

The last city-wide parking increase was six years ago, though Council Parking Services Manager Wayne Tacon says a small area changed from $1.80 to $2 an hour in 2001/02 after feedback that a $2 charge was more convenient. The Council has kept to that ‘whole amount’ philosophy after keeping charges down as long as possible, he says.

“The changes recognise the value of carparking in the inner city. It should promote turnover of spaces, which is good for retail activity, and should make it easier for everyone to find a park,” Mr Tacon says.

Wellington has 3500 on-street parking spaces – 1500 are metered, the rest are covered by 250 pay-and-display machines. By the end of October, nearly all parking spaces will be covered by new pay-and-display machines which accept credit cards and report any faults directly to the Council.

Auckland has charged $4 an hour in the central city for at least 18 months. Christchurch charges $2 per hour citywide. Both have charges on the weekend.

ENDS

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