The cost of removing free parking from Dunedin's central city streets has jumped to more than $1.6 million.
However, there is some good news - the increased revenue from the replacement pay-and-display parking meters is expected to offset the cost.
The increased spend was authorised at a recent Dunedin City Council finance and strategy committee meeting in Dunedin.
Councillors voted in favour of spending an extra $640,000 to implement the council's parking strategy, which was originally expected to cost about $1 million.
The strategy, adopted in July, heralded an end to free parking in the central city and introduced a new $4-an-hour rate for parking on George St.
Under the strategy, the number of paid parking spaces in the city would increase by nearly 400, from 1380 to 1768, while time-restricted parks dropped from 736 to 92 and the central city's 332 free parks were removed completely.
When adopted, the strategy required the purchase and installation of 110 new pay-and-display machines, signs and a marketing programme, at an expected cost of about $1 million.
However, a detailed assessment of optimal parking configurations undertaken since the strategy was adopted had found an additional 40 pay-and-display machines would be needed, at a cost of $500,000, a report to councillors said.
Two additional motorcycles, two hand-held electronic ticket-writers, additional signs, poles and markings, plus consultancy fees, were also needed, totalling another $140,000.
However, the forecast return to the council in 2009-10 resulting from the new strategy would increase by $311,000, from $2,996,600 to $3.2 million, with the installation of the additional meters, the report said.
