Queenstown cabbies would be happy with six spaces on the rank on Camp St "and some slack" from parking enforce-ment officials, says Alpine Taxi owner Paul Lascelles.
While taxi drivers were trying to be understanding - and flexible - about the disruptions being caused by the road works on Camp St, Church Lane and the Post Office precinct, they were not being given enough options by the Queenstown-Lakes District Council, he said.
"The council has not addressed the needs of provid-ing enough taxi space quickly enough, given the changes occurring in the town centre.
"We don't deliberately park in places like bus stops, loading zones or double-park; we simply have no choice while waiting for a space to open up on the rank."
Cabbies spoken to by the Queenstown Times said the QLDC had provided space for three or four taxis on Shotover St from 10pm but parking was not an issue at that time of night.
Alpine and Queenstown Taxis have almost 60 taxis between them and about half are operat-ing in the Lakes district per shift.
Alpine Taxi owner-operator Fraiser Campbell said there were always at least five cabs from both firms waiting for customers on Camp St and the feeder rank on Searle Lane.
"Other vehicles using Searle Lane make it awkward. You're in competition with couriers, post office, delivery and construction trucks.
"When you get a call and you're stuck between two freight trucks, it's not much fun."
He said he would like to see the taxi rank extended along Camp St, perhaps curling into Church St, and Searle Lane restricted to pedestrians only.
The QLDC's roading manager, Ian Marshall, said the council knew taxi drivers were being bounced around between the Camp St redevelopment and the private developments.
The council had been in contact with the taxi firms since construction on the Church St block began.
"All of those developments are dynamic and change day to day so we ask for patience. We want the service to be available to people and we want to work with the taxis to find a solution.
"They have to appreciate the constraints we have to work under."
Mr Marshall said the council was still looking at where it could create temporary space on Camp St, "but the Ngai Tahu development is going to ramp up in the next few weeks, which is going to have an impact."
Mr Marshall said taxis were subject to the same parking conditions as everyone else.
He said he expected provisions for taxis to return to normal once the three developments had finished with space for three taxis on Camp St and two on Searle Lane.
"I can't imagine any city having space for 20 taxis stacked up on one street."
Efforts to contact Queenstown Taxis for comment were unsuccessful but one of the company's drivers, in a letter to the Mountain Scene last week, described parking in the town as an "absolute nightmare", not just for taxis but the general public.
Willie Leishman said when taxis parked outside the Night 'N Day store or on loading zones, they were told to move on by meter maids.
"So, come on, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Lakes Environmental: give us a break," he wrote.
"We're only trying to make a living and, first and foremost, provide a service to the public."
