Dozens of submitters made their feelings clear after the Dunedin City Council consigned free parking on Sundays in the central city to history.
While the council was asking for feedback on where to charge for parking, most submitters took the opportunity to make it clear they were against any Sunday fees.
Submitters described the move as greedy, irresponsible, disconnected and out of touch with residents already facing a cost-of-living crisis.
The council approved central city parking fees on Sundays in an effort to increase parking turnover as part of the nine-year plan process.
The proposed enforcement area included most of the Octagon, Moray Pl, Filleul St, part of London St and Great King St, ending at Frederick St while free, time-limited parking would remain in George St and Princes St.
Of the 83 submissions received, about two-thirds (55) opposed parking fees on Sundays – many were concerned the fee would decrease centre city foot traffic on Sundays and asked free parking be retained.
In her submission, Just Jeans Dunedin store manager Caitlin Clementson said the justification of increasing turnover was a “joke”.
“Let’s call it what it is: another money grab by the council,” she said.
“It’s tone-deaf, greedy, and shows a complete lack of understanding of what the city actually needs.”
Sunday parking charges would be the same as existing fees – $3.50/hour for on-street parks and $2/hour for off-street parks.
Ms Clementson said charging for parking would kill centre city “vibrancy”.
An anonymous retail worker said businesses already struggled with a decrease on foot-traffic and were “barely making budgets as is”.
“It is ill-advised and irresponsible to enforce further paid-parking zones during a cost-of-living crisis – very out of touch.”
Another submitter said the policy demonstrated the council’s “disconnectedness with the community they serve”.
The Otago University Student Association said the council should consider delaying or scaling back the scope of the enforcement zone until a “meaningful threshold” of public transport accessibility and community support was reached.
“Leave all inner-city parking free on Sundays, and just police the time restrictions,” another said.
“Surely that is not rocket science, is it?”
Sixty-seven submissions (80%) said the proposed area of enforcement was not appropriate and 64 (76%) said the enforcement hours, 9am-6pm, were not appropriate, the report, authorised by acting transport strategy manager Simon Spiers and transport group manager Jeanine Benson, said.
Some submitters who supported the changes said the council could go further.
Submitter Daniel Basubas said he supported paid parking in George St and the council should work to make the central city low- or no-car zones.
“[The enforcement zone] could cover a wider area in the city – making parking more available to those who need it and encouraging people who do not have to drive to take public transport or cycle into town,” an unnamed submitter said.
Council staff had not changed the proposal after receiving feedback, but could consider increasing the enforcement zone in the future.
The details of paid Sunday parking will be considered alongside Albany Street Connection Project parking changes by Crs Jim O’Malley (chairman), Cherry Lucas and Mandy Mayhem at a hearing tomorrow.
If approved by the hearing panel, the changes would require final sign-off from the council.
