Developers may have to provide for vehicle parks in Wanaka's town centre by 2012, but the Wanaka Community Board is concerned that is not soon enough.
The Wanaka Community Board recently received a report from Queenstown Lakes District Council senior policy analyst Sue Mavor about the plan change process now under way for parking in Wanaka's town centre.
The Wanaka parking strategy says there are enough car parks but there will be a shortfall of 270 by 2026 if no changes are made.
Ms Mavor has warned of significant adverse effects on the town centre, the transport network and increasing pressure on surrounding residential streets.
The council has set aside $40,000 over the next two financial years for parking and urban design changes in Wanaka's town centre.
A working party has been appointed, comprising board chairman Lyal Cocks, deputy mayor John S.
Wilson, Cr Leigh Overton and board member Carrick Jones.
The draft plan should be advertised for public submissions in July or August, but it might take up to one or two years to complete the process, Ms Mavor said.
Mr Wilson said he did not want it to drag on.
"I am quite concerned about how long this process takes, potentially with the need to identify parking land.
"We possibly don't own enough land at the moment to provide for this type of parking in the future," Cr Wilson said.
Board chairman Lyal Cocks said parking was a serious problem and he was worried town centre development was moving so quickly the council might not be able to keep up.
The plan change should require town centre developers to provide car and cycle parks.
It should also consider angle parking on Brownston St beside Pembroke Park, Cr Cocks said.
The district plan permits developers to build shops and offices in the town centre without providing parks.
This has put pressure on public car parks and nearby residential streets.
The Wanaka Residents Association sought a plan change in 2004, when it wrote to the council asking for changes as "rapidly as possible" to cope with a range of high-density development concerns.
Issues came to a head in 2007, when Base Backpackers was built in Brownston St without the developer being required to provide bus and car parks.
Congestion at the corner of Brownston and Dungarvon streets is now noticeable and there have been complaints about backpackers parking in nearby streets and public parks, causing residential access problems and parking problems for shoppers and workers.
Board member Ken Copland recalled he had opposed Base Backpackers as he believed it provided no compensation, but was told he had no grounds to object.
"We now have up to 50 cars parks filled up a day for a business that provides nothing," Mr Copland said.
"I strongly support developer contributions to car parks."
