AT seeks more paid parking, expanded P120 zones

Greatly increased zones of paid parking along the Devonport waterfront are part of an Auckland Transport (AT) plan, which could also extend time-limited parking zones in nearby streets.

The plan would introduce paid parking on Queens Pde from Spring St to Wynyard St, and on King Edward Pde from Buchanan St to Church St – two stretches heavily used by commuters catching city-bound ferries.

To cater for residents who live on nominated side streets and the waterfront, AT proposes permits that would exempt their vehicles from payments in paid-parking zones, and P120 time limits in other areas, applying on weekdays from 8am to 6pm. A permit will cost $79 a year.

AT laid out its ideas to Devonport-Takapuna

Local Board members at a workshop last week. Its recommendations were based on a weekday parking-occupancy survey in March that found enough congestion to justify moves to free-up more spaces for shorter-term visits.

A number-plate recognition check established that more than 90 per cent of people parking on Queens and King Edward Pdes had vehicles registered to addresses outside the central survey area, parking design manager Alok Vashita told board members. Parking across the area was for an average of nearly six hours a day.

The survey found that average peak occupancy on the parades was above 85 per cent – rising to 100 per cent in some cases – such as in the side streets off Queens Pde (Anne St, Garden Tce, Kapai Rd and Huia and Spring Sts).

This level was also recorded on the western end of Clarence St; Calliope Rd towards Victoria Rd; and on Kerr St, Rattray St and the top of Buchanan St. (The central business area of Victoria Rd, Wynyard St, Fleet St and eastern Clarence St is not part of the proposals because it already has time-limited parking.)

Other streets the survey identified as high occupancy (between 80 to 85 per cent) included lower Church St and Mays St, and Victoria Rd between Calliope Rd and Hastings Pde, plus the Calliope Rd ends of High St and Shoal Bay Rd.

AT wants to create east and west P120 zones (see maps) that encompass the clogged streets. It sought the board’s approval to begin consulting residents about the permits for these zones, adding it had not introduced such schemes to neighbourhoods that did not want them.

The board said it did not want the changes to proceed without AT providing more information to justify them. This included breaking down its data to find if those parking in Devonport were from the peninsula or further afield.

Peninsula commuters choosing to use ferries rather than head up congested Lake Rd to get to the city should not be discouraged, said deputy chair Terence Harpur.

Another concern was for local businesses, including big employers such as the supermarket and the Navy, which relied on workers being able to get into the area and find reasonable parking. “I’m really mindful that the town centre needs a steady stream of people to operate,” said chair Toni van Tonder. Without a direct bus route down Lake Rd, some opted to drive.

Vashita replied: “The challenge is when parking is unrestricted, you cannot get a clear picture of who can cycle or walk to work.”

Member Gavin Busch wanted residents and businesses surveyed on the impact changes would have on them. “It looks like a solution looking for a problem,” he said of the proposals.

AT reported it had had 12 requests from residents for a permit scheme since 2018, and 43 complaints about illegal parking.

Busch said this perhaps indicated an enforcement need, as much as the requirement for further parking restrictions.

But member George Wood said consulting residents on permits was one way to find out what they thought. “And if it gets more people on buses, I’m pretty supportive of it.”

Vashita said the initial parking charge would be 50 cents, but this could rise if occupancy remained above 85 cent.

Board member Mel Powell wanted to know what triggered AT to look at Devonport parking. Vashita said the area had a “legacy parking” scheme inconsistent with AT’s current parking policy. He also cited the permit requests.

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