Parking charge details confirmed for island gateway

Details of user pays parking charges at Matiatia, Waiheke Island, have been agreed by the council’s Transport and Urban Linkages Committee at its meeting today.

Parking charges will help fund the council’s $12.5 million purchase of Waitemata Infrastructure Limited (WIL) shares, and ensure the land at Matiatia is developed as a high-quality gateway for the island.

“The purchase of WIL provides a fantastic opportunity to develop this precious part of Waiheke in an integrated and planned way,” says Councillor Richard Simpson, chairperson of the Transport and Urban Linkages Committee.

“Parking charges are part of funding these opportunities and are expected to generate income of around $400,000 per year.”

User pays parking will apply to 100 car parks at the council’s foreshore car park from 1 November 2005. Car park charges will be brought in line with existing WIL casual daily parking charges. Council has maintained these since it took ownership of the land on 1 September.

A new user pays car park will be introduced approximately 300m along Ocean View Road from the Matiatia Ferry Terminal at a reduced charge of $3 per day.

Mobility and 30-minute car parks at the council’s foreshore car park will remain free, as will free parking along Ocean View Road and at the Owhanake car park.

The changes will be marked out over the next six weeks, and there may be changes to entry and exit points within the existing car parks.

“It’s important the community has options, and can make choices about parking that best meet their particular needs,” says Mr Simpson.

“The new car park will ensure there is a tiered approach to user pays parking - $6 per day to park right at the foreshore, $3 per day at the new car park, and free parking at Owhanake.”

Parking charges agreed today are an interim measure and will remain in place until 30 June 2006, and will be reviewed following a design competition planned for Matiatia.

The design competition brief for an integrated development at Matiatia will include transport services, connections to the ferry terminal, parking and ideas for the pedestrian environment as a whole.

“Both the Waiheke and greater Auckland communities can participate in the review and design competition, ensuring the area is developed in a way befitting the spirit of the island,” says Mr Simpson.

The decision to introduce user pays parking at Matiatia was resolved by the full council in August 2005.

The committee also advocated for further development of transport network on the island to better support users of Matiatia.

Ends

Notes to editors New parking charges to be introduced from 1 November 2005: $6 per week day, or $3 per half week day, Saturday or Sunday at the council’s foreshore car park (100 car parks) $3 per day at a new car park approximately 300m along Ocean View Road from the Matiatia Ferry Terminal, to be in place by early November.

Existing parking charges (unchanged): $6 per day or $3 per half day at the foreshore car park formerly owned by WIL $65 per month at the foreshore lease-only car park formerly owned by WIL.

Free parking (unchanged): Mobility and 30-minute car parks at the council’s foreshore car park Ocean View Road Owhanake car park

Full day: 6am to 6am the following day

Half day: 6am to 1pm, or 1pm to 6am the following day

Month: calendar month

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