Free hour of parking to begin on July 1

ONE hour of free parking in Oamaru’s central business district will begin with the new financial year, on July 1.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher found favour with Waitaki district councillors in a proposal to offer free parking at the meters from 9am to 10am.

Early last month at the Waitaki District Council’s heritage, environment and regulatory committee meeting, he called for a plan for parking in Oamaru’s central business district to be developed in conjunction with the upcoming annual plan.

Last week, he addressed the issue on his mayoral page on Facebook.

‘‘Free parking all the time would be best, but the demands on parking and the monitoring still required make that a more complex issue than it might appear . . . and we will work on that,’’ he wrote.

‘‘Many businesses provide some parking for staff, but many also rely on Council to provide that. There is a significant amount of free parking for staff in back streets just a few minutes walk away, so I believe that Council should be looking after customers as its top priority. I see it as any Council’s role to help make shopping areas attractive and easy to use.’’

At the February council meeting, Cr Bill Kingan called the move ‘‘far too sensible’’ and said it would send a ‘‘really good message to our business community’’.

Cr Craig Dawson said parking issues were starting to crop up in ‘‘small towns like Omarama’’ too.

Cr Jan Wheeler said the first hour of paid parking in the morning had generated ‘‘good revenue’’ for the council — roughly $19,000 — and she questioned whether shopkeepers and ratepayers would prefer free parking from 4pm to 5pm.

Cr Wheeler voted against it.