Wellington Businesses Oppose Parking Fee Increases

The Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has come down heavily against planned car parking charges for Wellington City. The council’s Annual Plan is proposing to increase the fee from $4.00 to $5.00 an hour and to extend the hours that charges are applied in the evening.

“This proposed increase will do significant damage to what is already a fragile retail and hospitality sector in Wellington and puts the vitality of the CBD at risk,” said Chamber CEO Ken Harris.

“A vibrant city centre is one of Wellington’s strongest attractions. To maintain this vibrancy there needs to be easy access for people to visit day and night. The CBD already faces a disadvantage in that suburban shopping malls can provide ample free parking. It is important we don’t exacerbate that disadvantage by making parking in the city unaffordable.

“Extending the parking charges into the evening will damage the reputation of Wellington’s celebrated night life and disadvantage the hospitality sector.

“CBD congestion isn’t an issue outside peak hours and public transport and walking are not options for many people who visit the city for just a short time during the day.

“We fully endorse the concept of charging and enforcing parking in the city to ensure that there is appropriate turnover and to bring more people into the city but our analysis shows that higher fees are not justified.

“Not only are car park vacancy rates too high to warrant such a fee hike but this 25% jump, coming on top of previous increases over the years, more than outstrips the inflation rate. It is difficult to see this proposed increase as anything more than a revenue raising exercise.

“We recognise the financial challenges the council faces in needing to balance its books but discouraging people to visit the central city is akin to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. “While foregoing parking revenue would have to be made up elsewhere, it must not be forgotten that central city business already pay a substantial downtown levy. This levy is designed to bring people into the city but the car parking charges run counter to this.

“The council’s car parking policy is vital to the economic performance of the city. It is important that the number of car parks and the level of charges and fines are got right. The future of the central city is at stake,” Mr Harris concluded.

ENDS

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