HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE

16 December 2016

Free parking trial in Lower Hutt CBD to end 3 April 2017

Hutt City Council’s current parking trial will end on Monday 3 April 2017. The trial offered one hour free parking in the Lower Hutt CBD.

From Monday 16 January 2017 all long-term parking charges increased as a result of the trial will revert back to pre-trial rates.* The first-hour free parking in the HC2 time-restricted shopper parking areas will continue until Monday 3 April 2017. This is because of current parking pressures across the city due to restrictions on parking at the Queensgate Mall during demolition of an affected corner of the complex following the 14 November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.

Chief Executive Tony Stallinger says the trial, aimed at attracting visitors and retail spend in the central city, has been thoroughly researched but the results “don’t stack up”.

“We have given this trial longer than any other we have undertaken, but ten months of economic data shows free parking is not an effective strategy to attract additional retail spend.”

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace remains committed to working with CBD retailers to encourage business and has been pleased by the significant private investment and development in the central city during the past 12 months.

“While free parking has not given us the results we hoped, the private investment and development we’ve seen in the CBD over the past 12 months bodes well for the year ahead.

“Rejuvenation of the Lower Hutt CBD is a key strategic priority for our Council and we look forward to showing this commitment in a very tangible way with the opening of the Lower Hutt Events Centre in a years’ time. The Centre will be complemented by the new central city hotel we’ve attracted to the city with building work on this privately-owned hotel set to get underway early next year.

“This is on top of the ongoing RiverLink project set to deliver better flood protection, improved lifestyle and improved transport links for the people and businesses of central Lower Hutt.

“The trial though has shown that we need to have a better understanding of our future parking need across the city, particularly given the changes proposed by the RiverLink project, our continued work on city cycleways and the changing face of retail in areas such as Petone West.

“Council has asked officers to investigate a full city-wide review on the future parking demands our city will face and we expect the results to be presented back to Council next year for consideration.”

*Parking charges that will revert to pre-trial rates on Monday 16 January 2017:

• Hourly rates in HC3 parking zones will return to $1 per hour from $2 per hour.

• Rates at the Riverbank Car Park and HC4 parking zones will return to $0.70 per hour with a maximum charge of $4 per day from $1.50 per hour with a maximum charge of $6.

• Weekend and public holiday parking in HC3 and HC4 areas remains unrestricted with no charge.

• At the end of the trial period (3 April 2017) HC2 time-restricted shopper parking rates will return to $1.50 per hour. HC2 time-restricted shopper parking will remain free on weekends and public holidays.

Given these changes, customers with pre-purchased parking passes for the Riverbank Car Park from January 2017 onwards are entitled to a refund. Those with a January 2017 pass are entitled to a $14 refund and those with a pass from February 2017 are entitled to a $31 refund. Customers can visit the customer services team at Hutt City Council, 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt for this refund.

ENDS

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