Auckland City Council
Media release

3 September 2009

Proposed longer hours for Pay and Display would benefit parkers and CBD businesses

Auckland City Council’s Transport Committee has endorsed for community consultation a plan to give a helping hand to the CBD’s retail, hospitality and entertainment businesses by improving access to on-street parking.

The committee this morning endorsed the proposal to extend on-street Pay and Display operating hours to 10pm, pending a review of consultation feedback.

Transport Committee chair Ken Baguley says the move is designed to assist evening visitors to the CBD to find an available on-street park, while also supporting local businesses.

The proposal meets call from local businesses for improved access to on-street parking, and follows a trend in other Australasian cities to extend Pay and Display hours of operation into the late evening.

“With Pay and Display hours currently ending at 6pm, inner-city residents are parking in most of the on-street spaces, which negatively affects CBD businesses and people seeking parking to visit them,” said Councillor Baguley.

“Inner-city residents can access long-term leases in parking buildings for less than $100 per month, and this is the appropriate parking solution for them, if they don’t have their own parking.”

Consultation with the CBD Board and wider community will be undertaken later this month, with results to be reported back to the Transport Committee.

Councillor Baguley says that over the years entertainment areas have expanded and high density apartment style living has increased. Residential population of the CBD has increased from less than 2,000 in 1991 to close to 18,000 in 2006, with a matching increase in demand for parking.

If approved, the proposed new Pay and Display (8am to 10pm), would be introduced in stages.

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