Business people failed to turn out for a meeting on Thursday night to discuss the future of parking in central Oamaru.
About 300 businesses in a designated area pay part of their rates to fund parking, but of about 20 people at the after-work meeting in the Opera House, less than half represented businesses.
The rest were Waitaki District Council staff, councillors or representatives from the Waitaki branch of the Otago Chamber of Commerce, which called the meeting.
It was to discuss replacing pay-and-display machines installed in 2002 and now at the end of their life. Five options were investigated to replace them.
One option - free parking with time restrictions strictly enforced - found favour with the chamber, but before it made a recommendation to the council, it wanted to hear business people's views. A survey is also being distributed.
Chamber representative Gary Kircher said the chamber felt introducing free time-restricted parking would benefit businesses and residents, encouraging people passing through Oamaru to stop. It would leave more money in the community.
However, it would mean an increase in rates for businesses and more enforcement staff would be needed, Mr Kircher said.
Issues raised included. -
• A trial of time-restricted parking, for perhaps a year.
• Contribution from other ratepayers because they would be getting free parking.
• A fear business staff or owners would occupy the parks.
• The parking duration and location.
• Parking permits for some areas, including off-street car parks.
Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen hoped a report on options could go to the council's committee of the whole meeting on September 13.
