Media release - For immediate release Thursday 19 September 2013

Parking Revenue Return to Local Business Districts

The UPTOWN Business Association has voted in favour of investigating a new funding mechanism to upgrade Auckland’s Metropolitan and Town Centers. The proposal looks at a portion of all funds collected from on-street pay and display machines be returned to the relevant Business Improvement District (BID) for utilisation on transport-related projects in the relevant BID areas.

The project has been spearheaded by Waitemata Local Board member Rob Thomas that wants to see an equitable distribution of Auckland Transport funding being invested back into upgrading our business districts.

Mr Thomas says, “Over the last three years Auckland Transport has reduced the funding available for footpath and cycling improvements from $21 million per year to $10 million per year. Businesses have really struggled through the 2008 global economic crisis and it’s time for us to look at alternative funding to support local area improvements.”

“Auckland Transport have been criticized in the past for using on-street parking as a revenue gathering exercise. This is an opportunity for visitors to a business area to feel real good knowing that a proportion of what you pay goes back into the local area.”

Across the Auckland Region there are 46 business associations partnering with the Auckland Council on the Business Improvement District (BID) Programme which levies a compulsory financial contribution from businesses with a specific geographic area to fund local area improvements. The existing on-street pay and display machines return about $12 million a year. The lion share of this is in Auckland’s Central Business District of $10 million, Newmarket $1 million, Takapuna $500,000 and Manukau $200,000.

The types of improvements that Mr Thomas is suggesting would earmark the funding for improvements that might include footpath, curb and channel upgrades, way-finding signage, bicycle parking, seats and beautification like flower bedding.

Mr Thomas says “Even if Auckland Transport had a transparent process in place it would fall short of delivering upgrades to our Auckland metropolitan and town centers with the existing budget. Cities around the world have a similar parking revenue return system which works successfully.”

The UPTOWN Business Association, which represents over 700 businesses in the Newton area, are the most recent business district district to implement pay and display to encourage more accessible parking outside retail areas. At their latest business meeting the members passed the following resolution:

The Uptown Business Association has considered this proposal and resolved as follows:

1. That the Uptown Business Association supports the parking meter revenue return scheme in principle.

2. The proposal is forwarded to Heart of the City, Newmarket, K Road, Ponsonby, Parnell, Remuera, Takapuna and Manukau Business Associations for consideration.

3. The Business Association requests that a business case is developed with recommendations being reported back to the board.

4. That a working party is established from representatives of the above Associations, Auckland Council’s Economic Development Department officers and Auckland Transport officers to develop a business case and recommendations for consideration by the Board of Auckland Transport.

Proposal from UPTOWN to Auckland Business Associations:
Parking_meter_revenue_to_improve_business_district.pdf

ENDS

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