Parking was the topic of the day at a Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) workshop yesterday (Thursday March 14).

A transportation planner hired by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) explained to the board the findings of community consultation on the draft parking strategy as well as some of the possible parking management ideas being floated for Wānaka.

They include paid parking in central Wānaka; parking permits for user groups including expectant mothers and local residents; and the use of technology to better manage parking.

Workshops have previously been held behind closed doors and WUCCB chair Simon Telfer emphasised that the ideas shared at the workshop are “all conceptual at the moment”.

A draft parking management plan for Wānaka will be presented to the board at the end of May and the community will have the chance to provide feedback before a final plan is presented in August.

Parts of the Wānaka CBD including Brownston Street, Dunmore Street and the lakefront have “consistently very, very high demand for parking,” Stantec senior transportation planner Kylie Huard told the board.

She presented the possibility of paid parking at six ‘precincts’ in the Wānaka CBD, with fees ranging from $1 to $4 per hour, depending on the precinct and the type of vehicle (campervans and coaches attracting the higher costs).

A map presented at the meeting showing the six ‘precincts’ where paid parking - introduced in a staged manner based on demand - could be implemented. IMAGE: QLDC parking workshop

Under the proposal any paid parking would be implemented in a “staged approach”: the precinct with the highest demand would have paid parking first, and the next stage wouldn’t be “triggered” until the average peak demand reached 85 percent. 

Aside from two lakefront precincts stretching from the rowing club right along to Lakeside Drive, all the areas proposed for inclusion in paid parking were between McDougall Street and Hedditch Street and the west side of the golf course. 

The ‘core’ area (see image) would be the first to have paid parking, Kylie said.

The sting of new parking fees could be eased with an expansion of permits, she said.

“One of the things we heard in feedback is we need to look after local residents… so what we are proposing is we introduce a locals’ permit and we provide them with half price parking for up to three hours per day,” she said.

Other types of permits, like a new parents or expectant mothers permit, and the existing seniors permit (currently used by more than 550 people), were also discussed. 

Other parking-related topics covered during the meeting included changes to the time limits for parking in various parts of the CBD; the role of public transport; the quantity and location of mobility parking spaces; and the broader issue, as described by Simon, that the council cannot “supply its way” out of the parking challenge given the rapid increase in population numbers and visitors.

QLDC will present its draft parking strategy for Wānaka to the WUCCB on May 24.