Councils will have to provide better parking management and public transport options when on-site parking requirements for developers are abolished next year, Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says.
"Getting rid of the parking requirements was necessary, but it’s not sufficient to make sure that you are providing an alternative."
The Government’s national policy statement on urban development means territorial authorities must remove minimum car parking requirements for all residential, commercial and visitor accommodation developments by next February.
Ms Genter, the former associate minister for transport, said councils needed to take a smarter approach to parking management rather than just requiring huge amounts of off-street car parking to be provided.
Public transport had to be more frequent and reliable, and active transport made a more viable option.
Asked about the impact of new accommodation developments in smaller centres with limited or no public transport, such as Glenorchy in the Queenstown Lakes district, she said councils would have to ensure the provider catered for the travel demands it was creating, but have more than just single-occupant vehicles as a solution for how to get there.
"If they decide not to provide a travel management plan, then you can make it clear they will be expected to contribute to getting people to that village."
That could be through conditions on the development’s consent, or targeted rates.
Such communities had the opportunity to push for scheduled public transport services.
She also wanted the NZ Transport Agency to spend more on public transport services and bus priority measures.
Related Stories
Comments
An example of why local decision-making about local developments is far better than decrees from distant Wellington. What on earth is the point of trying to increase urban density when residents may not be able to access their homes, let alone transport children, purchases, even groceries? Public transport will never be able to provide access to all addresses and not everyone is capable of walking even a short distance to access a bus. New developments without off-street parking risk becoming white elephants, unaffordable to live in when access costs are taken into account. The streets around them will be congested with parked cars, something which is already a problem in a city like Dunedin with so many steep, narrow streets. There will be much woe and chaos before this badly thought-out and ideologically-driven dictate from central government is retracted. Saying local councils will just have to sort out the havoc caused is irresponsible and absurd. Councils don’t have the funding or legal powers to create better public transport and not in such a short time frame. Without a car, I get deliveries, sometimes ride- share and MORE on-site parking is needed for that, not less.
https://www.vox.com/2014/6/27/5849280/why-free-parking-is-bad-for-everyone
This article suggests a way in which the DCC could manage the parking issue. Allow residents to park in their street free but visitors to park for only two hours. And make sure footpaths are left open for pedestrians. Use technology to charge for all other parking according to the market at the time. Free parking is NOT a ‘public good’ - but to suddenly dispense with enough parking altogether would presently make too many people’s lives impossible, not merely difficult or more expensive.
This matter of transport, access and congestion is arguably the most important problem facing the city and IMO worthy of a submission to the 10 year plan.
Dunedin already has had enough of a green party wannabe, we certainly don't need her giving this one funny ideas.
I need CBD parking for my Microlight please.