The Star: November 29, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday November 29 2018 5
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
CBD parking fix may cost ratepayers
Councillors
discuss options
in private
• By Julia Evans
SECRET DISCUSSIONS have
been held over how to fix parking
problems in the central city
which could come at a cost to
ratepayers.
City councillors met last week
behind-closed-doors to consider
a report on “central city reduced
fee parking.”
The city council has refused to
release the report to The Star, or
answer questions
about it.
It was
deemed “commercially
sensitive” for
the public and
city councillors
remain
tight-lipped
about what
Antony Gough the report
proposes.
But The Star has learned that
private car park owners and developers
have been approached to
see what role they can play.
BUSTLING: A new report on central city reduced fee
parking was discussed by the city council behind-closeddoors.
Central city retailers have
been struggling to compete with
suburban malls which offer free
parking.
But property developer
Antony Gough, who is building
a 400-space parking building
on Hereford St, said there has
been discussion with the council
around rates rebates or subsides
for private providers.
“We’re trying to encourage
them to talk to us about that.
Nothing has been finalised, but
we expect them to,” he said.
There were “various ways”
being investigated to help reduce
the cost and encourage people
back into the CBD, Mr Gough
said. The city council’s Lichfield
St and Art Gallery parking
buildings are free for the first
hour. After that it’s $2.80 at
Lichfield St and $1 per half hour
at the Art Gallery.
In comparison, it costs $2 to
park in The Crossing for two
hours and $2 per half hour
thereafter.
The report was left on the table
without a recommendation being
approved and will be debated
again by city councillors.
But city councillors Aaron
Keown, Sara Templeton, Yani
Johanson and Mike Davidson
voted against it being debated in
secret.
Cr Keown said the report
covered the “way forward” for
parking in the central city. But
would not go into the specifics
while the report was publicly
excluded.
“It’s ratepayer money so you
have to tell them the reasons why
you’re spending it . . . what I can
say is every single option is being
investigated to get people back
in town and using every single
parking space available.”
Cr Davidson said parts of
the report should be discussed
separately.
“We should have had the
chance to discuss the substantive
issue without going into the
detail and separate out the PX
[publicly excluded] reports.”
Central Ward city councillor
Deon Swiggs supported it being
publicly excluded.
It was
“vital” the
right decision
is made to
encourage
people back
into the
central city, he
said.
“We need to
balance what’s
good for the
Aaron Keown
city and be
completely
over top of that, otherwise we
may miss an opportunity here.”
Central City Business
Association chairman Brendan
Chase said it hadn’t been
involved in discussion.
However, cheaper parking in
the Lichfield St building had been
good for businesses.
“If you reduce the price, you
increase the occupancy
. . . for us, it’s about getting the
pedestrians who park their
cars. It’s pedestrians who are
shopping, not the cars,” he
said.
Brougham Street / Moorhouse Avenue area
Help us
get it right.
Don’t leave it until
it’s too late to get your
home’s earthquake
repairs checked.
Colombo St between Moorhouse Avenue and Brougham Street
We’re working on a plan for one
of Christchurch city’s busiest
areas - between Moorhouse
Avenue and Brougham Street.
We want to make it safer and easier for
everyone to live, do business and travel in
this area, both now and in the future.
It’s early days and we are gathering local
knowledge. We welcome your input now
and there will be further opportunities for
engagement as the project progresses.
Look for our
pop-up sites:
Thursday, 6 December 9:00am – 11:00am
The Colombo, 363 Colombo Street, Sydenham
Thursday, 6 December 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Outside the Christchurch Bus Interchange,
Lichfield Street and Colombo Street
Friday, 7 December 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Hagley Park South, Corner Moorhouse Avenue
and Hagley Avenue
Keeping you informed
Go online www.nzta.govt.nz/bm
Have your say by January 14, 2019
Or contact Martin Peat
(03) 367 2488 bm@nzta.govt.nz
Brougham Street / Moorhouse Avenue
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