A new bus park in the town centre, new timed parking restrictions in Northlake and new no-stopping restrictions on Anderson and McDougall Streets are up for debate in Wānaka this week.

New ’no stopping at any time’ restrictions (yellow dotted lines) on both sides of Anderson Road are proposed over a 25m distance between the Aubrey Road roundabout and Rowley Place.

In its report to the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB), the council said motorists were frequently parking vehicles on this stretch of roadside near the roundabout and illegally blocking the traffic lane.

‘With both visitor and population growth in the district leading to pressure on housing and higher demands for parking, inappropriate parking is becoming increasingly common,” council staff said.

But not everyone is happy with the proposal to increase the broken yellow lines on Anderson Road.

“There are already insufficient roadside car parks,” WUCCB deputy chair Chris Hadfield said.

Chris, who lives on Anderson Road, said he understands the need for safety at the busy roundabout intersection but added that new no-stopping sections of roadside coupled with existing no-stopping sections are putting a lot of pressure on what little parking remains along Anderson Road.

“My understanding is there have been complaints about parked cars at the Aubrey Rd end of Anderson. However it has only become an issue since the bike path was put in,” he said.

He said he plans to raise the issue of cycle lanes being introduced to the detriment of car parking at today’s (November 21) board meeting.

Also proposed are new 60 minute parking restrictions in Northlake on Northlake Drive & Mount Linton Avenue. 

Sixty minute parking restrictions are proposed for Northlake’s commercial centre.

Council said parking space near Northlake's commercial centre is used by vehicles parked all day and time restrictions would promote turnover and improve car park availability.

A section of free roadside parking on McDougall Street between the Wānaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park, often used by campervans, might also be amended for exclusive use by bus service operators.

The proposed bus parking is beside the entrance to the showgrounds. Council staff say bus operators use this area to pick up and drop off passengers and are requesting the board considers installing bus stop markings and signs to this section of roadside.

Further up McDougall Street, opposite the Wānaka Community Hub, parking on a 6.1m stretch of roadside, between two private driveways, has become contentious. 

Complaints have been made to council of motorists frequently parking vehicles illegally across the driveways. It is proposed to change this 6.1m section from free parking to no stopping at all times.

The four proposed parking restrictions will be considered for approval by the WUCCB at its meeting this morning at the Lake Wānaka Centre.

Changes to existing parking restrictions or the implementation of new restrictions under the Queenstown Lake District Council’s Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2018 require a council resolution but the WUCCB has been delegated the power to decide those amendments.  

PHOTOS: Wānaka App