Mayor Andy Foster says Let’s Get Wellington Moving will transform the city’s transport system in the years ahead. “How we manage parking now and in the future is an important part of every transport system.
“With 50,000 to 80,000 more people set to call Wellington home in the next 30 years, the Council is planning how and where our city can grow, without compromising the things that make us who we are.
“There is strong public support for good change. In every major engagement recently – Let’s Get Wellington Moving, Planning for Growth, and Te Atakura – First to Zero, Welingtonians have said they want to see future growth directed to the central city and existing suburbs, less reliance on private cars, and priority given to walking and cycling.
“Private vehicles, including trade and mobility vehicles, will continue to be a necessary part of the transport mix and the Council’s role is to make sure transport choices are balanced and integrated to support the city’s growth over the long-term.
“In many cases demand for parking exceeds supply. How the Council manages its parking impacts the use of public transport, road congestion, the use of public space and the amount of carbon emissions.”
Councillor Jenny Condie, who holds the Council’s parking portfolio, says parking is an issue on which people have strong views. “I encourage people to have their say. The information gathered will inform a proposed parking policy for the Council to consider in June.
“People can take part in an online forum or look out for our pop-up information in various communities around Wellington and tell us how they think we should manage parking in the city."
People will be asked to comment on issues like the number of car parks and time limits for car parking.
The Council manages about 14% of total available parking spaces in the central city. Of these, about 900 are off-street and 3200 are on-street. The remaining central city parking spaces are managed privately, nearly half of these have restricted access, such as employee parking only.
The Parking Policy Review considers the on-street and off-street parking policy settings controlled by the City Council in the Parking Policy 2007 and the Mobility Parking Policy 2005.
Once the consultation period is open you can have your say by selecting the Smarter Ways to Manage Parking project at letstalk.wellington.govt.nz or pick up a submission form at your local library or community centre.
In March and April the Council will also be on the road talking to communities about the future shape of our city, including how we manage parking.