Free CBD parking to continue
Hamilton’s free-parking deal looks set to stay for another year – just.
City councillors were evenly split on whether to pull the plug on the trial of two hours free in the CBD.
Councillor Dave Macpherson broke the deadlock at this week’s growth and infrastructure meeting, using his chairman’s casting vote to keep the trial going until June 2019.
Free parking proponent Cr Geoff Taylor asked his colleagues if they would rather return to the days when ‘‘you could shoot a cannon down the main street and not hit anybody’’.
Shoppers and shopkeepers like free parking, he said, it’s helping change negative perceptions, and council now has better data from parking sensors.
It means less parking revenue for council, he said, ‘‘but, in my view, it’s a price that’s infinitely worth paying’’.
The trial started in October 2017 and continuing it means council will miss out on about $900,000 in parking revenue in the coming financial year.
But there is a possibility the decision could change – three councillors were away for the vote and the recommendation has to go back past full council.
Council needs another 12 months of ‘‘figures and stats’’, Macpherson said.
He pointed out 27 per cent of people surveyed by council said they’d come into the CBD more often since free parking was introduced.
There’s also room to tweak things, Cr Mark Bunting said, such as adjusting the free time allowance in certain streets.
But Cr Angela O’Leary said using price to manage parking is the best way and other cities had found free parking didn’t work.
Cr Leo Tooman said most CBD spending was on food and alcohol, which he didn’t want to subsidise.
Parks are being used more, general manager of city infrastructure Chris Allen said, but not to the point of being over-congested throughout the CBD.
Council was aiming for 85 per cent park occupancy: high enough to create a buzz but not make it impossible to find a park.
In April 2018, the overall CBD average was 77 per cent but certain streets – including Ward St East and Worley Place – had higher rates, a staff report said.
Central-city businesses are paying a targeted rate towards the free parking, and many want it to continue.
In a Hamilton Central Business Association survey, 88 per cent of members said yes.
Council also surveyed 508 people, about half of whom visit the CBD daily, and 468 said two hours’ free parking was a good idea.
Those who voted against the free parking plan were: Crs James Casson, Siggi Henry, Garry Mallett, Angela O’Leary, and Leo Tooman.
Crs Rob Pascoe and Paula Southgate were absent from the meeting, and Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher was absent for the vote.