Advocates for the elderly and the disabled say a proposed $33 fee in the Dunedin City Council’s draft 10-year plan for 75-plus parking and mobility exemption permits, could affect residents already struggling to get by.
The permits are now free.
Holders of the mobility exemption get an hour’s free parking in all pay and display parks, as well as restricted areas, in addition to marked disability parks.
Holders of 75-plus permits can park free in all pay and display parks for the maximum allowed time.
There are 6012 75-plus permit holders in the city and 127 mobility exemption holders.
Disabled Persons Assembly community networker Chris Ford said the fee would have a large effect on people on a disability benefit or who received ACC payments. Mobility parking permits made the city accessible for people with disabilities and the fee would mean some people would decide not to get one, Mr Ford said.
Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar said the proposed fee was just another cost the DCC was passing on to elderly residents who could not afford it.
"It’s an absolute disgrace and if you look at the rest of the plan, I’m afraid over-75s and even over-65s will be paying a lot more to live in the city."
Grey Power was one of the agents which issued the 75-plus parking permits on behalf of the council and Mrs Millar said she could not understand why an administration fee was needed.
Mr Ford and Mrs Millar were disappointed the council had not informed them of the changes before the draft plan was passed by councillors last year.
DCC compliance solutions manager Ros MacGill said the plan’s consultation period was an opportunity for all residents to have their say on any of the proposals.
Dunedin was the only council in New Zealand to offer a similar permit for people with mobility issues and there were only a handful of other councils which offered a similar permit for elderly residents, Ms MacGill said.
