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JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff
Parking costs in downtown Christchurch and in the city-owned Lichfield St parking garage could increase by more than 40 percent.
The cost of parking in downtown Christchurch could become much more expensive starting in July under plans to increase hourly rates by nearly 50 percent.
The proposal has been described as “illogical” by a Christchurch city councilor, while others are supporting the push towards a user-pay system.
The Christchurch City Council’s 10-year draft budget outlines the intention to increase on-street parking from $ 3.10 an hour to $ 4.50, an increase of 45 percent.
The cost of parking in the City Hall’s Lichfield St parking building could also increase from $ 2.80 an hour to $ 4, an increase of 43%. The Art Gallery parking fee could double from $ 2 an hour to $ 4.
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In an attempt to reduce operating costs, the council is also proposing to reduce library hours, permanently close the mobile library, and close the Akaroa and Lyttelton service centers, as well as the Riccarton Rd bus lounges.
Cr James Gough, co-chair of the council’s city push committee, said the increase in parking fees was “illogical,” especially amid Covid-19.
“Naturally, I don’t think it’s conducive to welcoming people to the center of the city.”
STACY SQUIRES / THINGS
The Christchurch City Council is considering changing its parking policy in the city center. He says there is a perception that the city lacks parking, but wonders if that’s really the case or a myth. (First published August 2020)
Some of the industries hardest hit by Covid-19 were retail and hospitality, he said, which made up most of the businesses in the city center.
Gough said that the idea of everyone leaving their cars and getting on a bus bound for the city center was an “idealological statement that had little correlation with reality.”
The president of the Central City Business Association, Annabel Turley, said businesses would be disappointed with the proposed parking increase.
“The city center is fragile at the moment. Companies have not had years of good operations behind them. “
George heard / things
The cost of parking in Christchurch’s city center could soon be on par with Wellington. (File photo)
He said that companies wanted more people to enter the central city, but understood that the city council had a financial gap to fill.
Cr Jake McLellan said he supported the increases because the city should move toward a car parking system where the user pays more.
“We should stop subsidizing car parking and adopt a spirit of user pay.”
Cr Sara Templeton said each area of the council’s budget has had to play its part in keeping rates low while trying to maintain basic services, and parking was no different.
Parking fees in Christchurch were much lower than in other cities, and it was one way the council could help push people toward more sustainable forms of transportation, he said.
In Wellington, people are charged $ 4.50 an hour to park downtown and $ 2.50 on weekends.
Auckland charges $ 5 per hour for the first two hours and then $ 10 per hour after that.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff
Closing the Riccarton Rd bus lounges would save $ 600,000 a year.
The council’s long-term plan (LTP) has identified savings in its daily costs of $ 34 million the next financial year and $ 329 million over the next 10 years.
You would save about $ 600,000, including a $ 300,000 grant from Waka Kotahi / NZ Transport Agency, if you closed the Riccarton Rd bus lounges.
Bus halls have drawn criticism since their inception in late 2015 for being a hotspot for violence and drugs.
The council’s LTP said this type of suburban facility was not provided anywhere else in Christchurch.
The LTP also reported that there had been a decrease in the use of the mobile library. He planned to discontinue service in July of next year when the truck must be retired.
The hours of other libraries may be slightly reduced. It was proposed to close the Tūranga central library at 7pm instead of 8pm on weekdays, but it could open some holidays.
Aranui and Sumner libraries could close on Sundays and other larger libraries, including South and Halswell, will close at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.
The cost of swimming in a municipal pool could increase by 30 cents for an adult to $ 6.60 and up to 10 cents for a child to $ 3.80.
The popular Tumbletimes play session for toddlers and preschoolers will increase 9 percent to $ 4.80 per session.
