Auckland Transport Media Release

29 September 2011

Consultation Opens For St Mary’s Bay Residential Parking Zone

Auckland Transport is about to begin public consultation on a proposal to create a residential parking zone in St Mary’s Bay. The consultation will open on Monday 3rd October and run for four weeks, closing on Friday 28th October.

Designed to reduce the impact of commuter parking on residents, the proposed residential parking zone would create a blanket two hour time restriction, between the hours of 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. The restrictions cover all of St Mary’s Bay, reducing the chances of pushing the problem on to neighbouring streets. Residents would be able to purchase annual and short term permits, to enable them, or their visitors, to park on the street at all times.

If implemented, the parking zone will initially be run as a one year trial. If successful, this will inform the development of a new residential parking policy for Auckland. Auckland’s current residential parking policy has been in place since 2001 and was last amended in 2007.

“The need for a new residential parking policy has been highlighted by numerous complaints received from residents concerning parking in city fringe suburbs, many of which are heritage areas with limited off-street parking,” says Auckland Transport Parking and Enforcement Manager Eunan Cleary.

“Commuters are increasingly opting to park in residential streets, causing a number of issues for residents including blocked driveways, lack of parking and traffic congestion in the morning and afternoon peaks.”

“The St Mary’s Bay Association welcomes this comprehensive initiative,” says SMBA chairman Tony Skelton. “Residents are currently sandwiched between LINK bus park-and-ride commuters on the Ponsonby side and commuter workers parking in St Mary’s Bay and using Jacobs Ladder as a shortcut to their offices in the rapidly growing business hub around Fanshawe St and Wynyard Quarter. When the new pedestrian overbridge linking St Mary’s Bay to Fanshawe St and the Wynyard Quarter opens early next year St Mary’s Bay could turn into a commuter parking lot.”

Submissions can be made via the Auckland Transport website (www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/haveyoursay) or by calling 09 355 3553 and asking for a consultation package. The details of the proposal are:

• Create a residential parking zone with a blanket two hour time restriction between the hours of 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
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• All properties within the zone can purchase up to three resident permits which will be linked to vehicle registration.
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• All properties can also purchase one visitor permit which will not be linked to a registration. Further short-term visitors permits will be available at a rate of $1 a day in a book of 10 one-day permits. Residents will be able to purchase up to 30 one-day parking permits a year.
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• Anyone can park in the zone for two hours and permit holders are exempt from the time restriction. Any vehicle staying longer than two hours without a permit will be issued with an infringement ticket. Motorcycles/scooters are exempt and will not require permits.
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• Signs will alert vehicles entering and exiting the zone and will be placed at regular intervals within the zone
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• Businesses and organisations within the zone will be eligible to purchase permits at the same rate and conditions as residents’ permits
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• Businesses outside of the zone will not be eligible to purchase permits
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• The parking zone will replace the existing parking time restrictions that currently exist in some streets in the proposed zone but all bus stops and other restrictions will remain. For example the P10 restrictions outside St Marys College.
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• The annual costs are as follows:
1st Permit – linked to vehicle registration $70
2nd Permit – linked to vehicle registration $100
3rd Permit – linked to vehicle registration $150
Visitor permit (1 per property) – not linked to registration $70

For more information go to www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/haveyoursay

ENDS

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