City faces parking shortage

Complaints ratepayers are about to be pressured into paying for a new parking building in downtown Tauranga are being rubbished by Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby.

Speaking in response to councillor Rick Curach's assertion a council deal with Trustpower will result in ratepayers being fast-tracked to paying for a $22-$25 million parking building, Stuart says no one should assume the council will be paying.

A new headquarters for Trustpower is set to bring 300 workers into the CBD.

There has always been a requirement for council to look at another parking building in the CBD and redevelopments may bring that forward, says Stuart.

'To my mind that's a very good thing, more people are coming into the CBD,” says Stuart.

'The second issue; no one should assume the council has to do that - provide the new car parking building.”

Tauranga City Council will be looking for the private sector to provide any new car parking buildings.

'Some time ago we were approached by a New Zealand-based company looking to purchase car parking buildings, so the market's there.

'The other option is a public-private partnership - a joint venture with the parking suppliers. Other cities are considering relinquishing their car parking buildings to the private sector as well.

'If it is required sooner than our timeframe, it's a good thing, and it doesn't mean the council's going to provide it.”

His comments come after Rick claimed a secret deal has been done over Trsutpower's parking arrangements to service its new offices about to be built in Durham Street.

The $25 million three-storey development will include only 75 carparking spaces on site for its 300 staff. Rick found out about the arrangement at a recent committee meeting when city transportation manager Martin Parkes refused to talk about it in public, saying it is confidential.

The agreement with Trustpower is made by chief executive Garry Poole and is well within his delegated authority, says Stuart today.

'The CEO had delegated authority to do what he did. I think Rick's got the numbers wrong,” says Stuart.

Until 18 months ago, Trustpower would have had to provide for all the car parks on site – or pay the city council $34,000 to $38,000 for each car park not provided within the development.

'We actually took away the requirement through a city plan change designed to stimulate and assist development of the CBD,” says Stuart.

Since that decision a number of new buildings have appeared in the CBD, and others are planned – including the university campus across the road from the new Trustpower building.

'At the end of the day most of those developments will still provide on-site parking because it is in their interest,” says Stuart.

'What we have taken away is the requirement to do so. The market will determine whether they want car parks on their site or not, not the council.”

The parking arrangement with Trustpower is a temporary one, until Trustpower gets other arrangements in place, says Stuart.

He doesn't think the Trustpower building by itself will create enough additional traffic to require a new car parking building – but the university campus probably will.

'We are there to stimulate the CBD, not to put barriers in the way. Bringing Trustpower back into the CBD is going to bring a large number of workers and business back into the CBD to help stimulate it. To my mind that's a positive thing.”

Councillors will be discussing the parking situation at a private meeting tomorrow, says Rick.

'I think the public needs to know what commitment the council makes in terms of its assets and potentially what ratepayers are up for in terms of carpark spending, because that will trigger an earlier need for a new carpark building.”

'That's my key issue,” says Rick.

'Why weren't we consulted? My concern is that it should have been a council decision because of the financial impact of bringing forward the requirement for a car parking building.”

'We have got university going in across the road, a further development down waterfront, removing more carparks. We need to have some decent discussion about the time frame.”

The council agreed to provide the Durham Street carparks for the campus site, which involves the loss of 127 car parks.

The report that sparked the discussion says unless there is considerable effort and results in shifting trips to non-vehicle based modes, then based on current development trends, the new parking building is in the 2015/18 timeframe.

Staff will be presenting a report through the Long-Term Plan process on the need and timing of additional parking stock through two options; a third car parking building and/or an additional floor on Elizabeth Street car park building.

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29 comments

News from the Mayor

Posted on 04-08-2014 14:30 | By Murray.Guy

So, Mayor Crosby is up to his 'smoke and mirror' tricks' again. We've learnt for the first time that he intends to privatize our parking buildings which will reduce the debt on the Council books and double the cost of parking, further eroding the CBD viability. This revelation explains in part the arrogant stubbornness of he and staff, refusing to meaningfully apply themselves to removing the double dipping CBD on-street parking. charges. Another example of the Mayor trying to model Tauranga on Auckland and himself on Mayor Len Brown.


Rastus

Posted on 04-08-2014 15:14 | By rastus

Once again the cart before the horse - several years back I made a submission to councils planning that in order for the CBD to survive we had to have more parking- you cannot expect people to go round and round looking for a car park when they can go to Bethlehem/Fraser cove/Bayfair and get any amount of free parking. The rules should not have been changed to allow Trust power and definitely not more college campus's to be built in town when no provision has been made for all the extra people being brought into those types of pursuits - a CBD needs good shops and support services - Trust power headquarters could be sited anywhere and the college campus could be sited similar to windemere - you don't have to be in the CBD to learn - its all politically correct hogwash.


Hell!!!!

Posted on 04-08-2014 15:54 | By Sambo Returns

Mr Murray.... you are starting to make more sense being out of Council, than at anytime you where up to your neck in it, why is that?, agree totally with the Len Brown comparison, and the debt ridden one as well, but is Mr Crosby being guided by a Stephen Town "wannabe"?, and is it true, students get subsidised parking in the city?.


public transport

Posted on 04-08-2014 16:34 | By rotovend

public transport should be the priority we need night buses etc so people can go out to dinner and catch a bus home. It doesnt matter how much parking you build eventually there will be no parking if there is no public transport simple really, the existing car parks are often empty due to people being too lazy to walk a block or two


parking shortages

Posted on 04-08-2014 16:49 | By YOGI BEAR

Looks like a certainty there, some development already + the university deal + hotel sooner or later + got rid of 300 odd car parking on the waterfront. Cant keep doing that and expect nothing else affected.


Sensible parking decisions

Posted on 04-08-2014 17:01 | By Accountable

The new parking building could be the saviour of the CBD if Council is prepared to build it and charge the University and Trustpower and any other company that is prepared to pay the parking charges for its students and employees.This would give the Council a guaranteed return on their investment and free up the other two buildings for the customers of the CBD. As the Spring street and Elizabeth street buildings have been well and truly paid for by the public the Council can easily afford to offer three hour free monitored parking in them as well as three hour free monitored on street parking. The Council must also be prepared to reinstate as much parking as is possible on the Waterfront as this is the most inappropriate waste of space and ratepayers money. The CBD was and is not ready for the removal of this important parking.


Another no win situation

Posted on 04-08-2014 17:07 | By Annalist

People screaming for more activity and business downtown with free parking, and then when a new major business comes along people screaming there won't be enough parking??? The solution is for either the council or private enterprise to provide a new parking building. I'd rather my rates didn't go into providing a new parking building which potentially might have to compete with free street parking.


Carparking

Posted on 04-08-2014 17:52 | By maddog

I believe that if trust power are going to be bringing in 300 staff then with there new building they should build there own parking in there own building and remove the parking at the top of Elizabeth street parking building and give more parking for people who want to shop in down town Tauranga


So what's Murray Guy's solution?

Posted on 04-08-2014 18:43 | By Councillorwatch

Instead of just criticism from Mr Guy, it would be good for him to tell us what he would do? Would he insist all businesses in Tauranga CBD provide the actual number of carparks needed on their property? Would parking on the streets be free? Who would put up the money for new parking buildings - ratepayers?? It's easy to appear bitter, much harder to lead.


Clean

Posted on 04-08-2014 19:05 | By Capt_Kaveman

the lot out councilors and staff


Councillorwatch want answers

Posted on 04-08-2014 21:34 | By Murray.Guy

Less misinformation from the Mayor and staff to better enable elected members (those who give a damn) to make better decisions. Two years ago Councillors were told in the Council Chambers by STAFF that there was an over abundance of parking to support their recommendation the Developers no longer contribute to parking and that there be no change to the rest of the City. I did my own resource and voted against this. I lost. Now the ratepayers loose as I am proven correct. Part Answer: Ensure developers meet their extra parking needs, not ratepayers! Retain parking on the Strand! Do NOT GIFT the Durham Street PARKING land to the Waikato University. See: http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/24242-council-to-vote-on-parking-regime.html


Devon Campbell

Posted on 05-08-2014 10:05 | By YOGI BEAR

You have highlighted the problem, The University and Trust power have done a deal for free parking and little/no parking on their respective new sites. That means not enough in the buildings they build, congested already on the streets, any new car park building will be at a cost to someone/everyone else. Yet at the end of it all we have a lovely (not) wind blown wind swept concrete pad on the waterfront ... no car parks anymore?


Analysing the comments

Posted on 05-08-2014 10:24 | By Annalist

You would think that retailers would applaud the hundreds or even thousands of potential customers brought into the City by the Trustpower and university developments. But, hey, I guess they won't be buying souvenirs so don't they count? How about retailers paying for their staff and customer parking too, just like the malls, and just like D Campbell suggests Trustpower and the uni should do? Fairs fair? But I'm amazed to think that anyone would pay to park in a building if they can get 3 hours free on the street. Say park from 9 to 12, pop out for lunch, then park from 1 to 4 and you've got free parking virtually all day. Perhaps the retailers will even show us how? I feel the ratepayers are about to be sucked into underwriting yet another parking building that can't possibly compete with free parking on the street.


Annalist, why

Posted on 05-08-2014 12:29 | By Murray.Guy

Annalist, why do you expect of the CBD retailers that which you do NOT expect off the retainers elsewhere in suburban public retail / commercial atria's such as Greerton, Mount Maunganui, Cherrywood etc. Please explain why the CBD should be treated any different in regard parking management. Please note that there is NO cost to ANYONE in regard the provision of on-street parking other than that already paid for by rates and the NZTA. Why should ratepayers subsidize the developers and property owners in the CBD at the cost of developers and property owners in the rest of the city? Is it acceptable to lie and mislead to justify a predetermined outcome? All most folk want is parity city wide, which will only come with honesty and transparency - I sense we're in for a long wait!


Analist

Posted on 05-08-2014 14:27 | By Accountable

All we are asking for are the same privileges as The Mount and Greerton. We know that the other suburban shopping centres are privately owned. Did you know the CBD has lost over 1000 people daily because businesses have moved to other areas with free parking? For example most banks,The Warehouse, Spotlight etc. Trustpower won't be up and running until 2017 and the University won't be fully completed until 2024. It's a long wait between meals. Free parking works at the Mount and Greerton so why are our customers and workers so different in your mind? They are not and that is why we are asking for parity on their behalf. The downside is you refuse to listen or understand the reasoning to our request for parking parity. Do you own a business at the Mount or Greerton and are you afraid of fair competition?


@Devon and Murray

Posted on 06-08-2014 10:17 | By Annalist

Devon, ok go for free parking but don't expect ratepayers to underwrite a parking building to compete with that free street parking. Hmmm? I think the current parking charges could be a bit cheaper but I usually can find a park and nip in to the shop I want. I'm mostly put off by the constant whining of retailer/s telling people how bad the parking is. I think it's called shooting yourself in the foot. For interest, which cities of 100,000 plus have free parking in the CBD? Really I think that the CBD has been dying for plenty of reasons other than parking. After years of decline, this parking levy removal seems to have sparked at least two big developments that should kick things along. But still the whining goes on further putting people off from going to the CBD.


Analist

Posted on 06-08-2014 12:00 | By Accountable

I have been honest enough to publish my name as has Murray Guy. I think it is now about time you fronted up and published your correct details instead of hiding behind a pseudonym.Its easy to ignore the issues in the CBD as you do but at least we are being very positive with our suggestions on how to improve the situation.Do you suggest we just sit back and let the Council kill the CBD and take every business person and their staff with them which I suspect is exactly what you are thinking you would like to see.Latest news is the Westpac bank is moving to Cameron road to make use of the free parking. That's more damage done by the Council and people like yourself complaining about where the rates should and should not be spent and ignoring the bigger issues.


Parking requirements

Posted on 06-08-2014 15:41 | By YOGI BEAR

There would be no need of this debate if Council just stuck to their own rules and required all to provide adequate parking. That would in time mean the parking issue would be fixed, rates would be less, no cost of parking in the streets we all have already paid for and no parking buildings needed either. It all seems so simple really.


Devon

Posted on 06-08-2014 17:38 | By Annalist

I comment respectfully and without attacking the person. I ask you to do the same. What is important is our argument and reasons, not who we are. Sorry but I don't understand complaints first that the CBD is dying, but when something positive happens like Trustpower or the university the same old parking arguments are trotted out. Where else in NZ in cities over say 100,000 people is parking free in the CBD? How could a parking building possibly pay its own way if parking on the street was free for 3 hours? Where else in any exciting CBD are cars parked along the waterside? Council alone isn't killing the CBD, it's a combination of constant negative publicity from retailer/s, and mostly the sad fact that people seems to prefer the uniformity of boring malls. The rents paid in malls cover the cost of free parking.


Anilist

Posted on 07-08-2014 11:34 | By Accountable

It's a bit of the pot calling the kettle black isn't it? I have suggested how the building could be paid for in a previous comment on this subject and ask you to read that again and in fact all the answers to your questions have been covered in my previous comments.If you have a better idea of how to improve the situation in the CBD let us know through this forum.I write from many years of experience of operating businesses in the CBD and would expect the same knowledgeable respect and comments from you. Please take the time to look into the reasoning behind our push for parking parity with The Mount and Greerton because as you know I and the press have written many articles on this particular subject and there is very little that can be added unless you can write something constructive on the subject.


Devon

Posted on 07-08-2014 17:07 | By Annalist

Isn't it obvious - that you can't expect people to pay to park in a parking building if you've got 3 hour free parking on the street? Therefore a parking building will end up being paid for by the ratepayers. Also if its good enough for Trustpower and the uni to have to pay for their staff, students and clients to park (say in a parking building) then its good enough for all the businesses in the CBD to do the same surely? Napier, Rotorua, New Plymouth etc etc all charge for CBD parking but its free in the suburbs. Those CBDs aren't dying so perhaps they have switched on retailers focussed on service rather than publicity putting customers off?


Anilist

Posted on 07-08-2014 19:45 | By Accountable

Rotorua and Taupo have free two hour parking and it is bringing people back to their CBDs. We have more suburban shopping competition offering free parking in Tauranga per head of population than anywhere else in New Zealand so your not comparing apples with apples.The customers of the CBD subsidise the free parking through out the whole city from CBD parking charges.Is that fair on the customers and the businesses in the CBD? Is it fair to ask these same people to pay for a parking building to subsidise the likes of Trustpower and the university?If you were to be honest with yourself and us then your answer has to be no.All people are asking for is parity and whether that be parking charges through out the whole city or free parking as at The Mount or Greerton is in the hands of the Council.It really is that simple.


Free parking

Posted on 09-08-2014 20:15 | By Crash test dummies

Simple not enough parking. CBD, not enough, people go elsewhere. Elsewhere its free .... No brainer isn't it. Elsewhere free ... Free ... Free ... The contest is over before started.


Free parking

Posted on 10-08-2014 08:38 | By Ellajj

When I pop into Tauranga for a quick shop I am more than happy to pay the meter for an hour or so. Trouble is , I can't find any spaces and I often just don't have time to park in a building and walk back to the shop I want. Free parking is a great idea but surely there still won't be any spaces.


Elljj

Posted on 14-08-2014 01:56 | By Crash test dummies

Very hard to do... Find a car park


Very hard to do

Posted on 15-08-2014 05:08 | By Crash test dummies

Find a CBD car park. Hens teeth .... ,-Council staff have no idea as they have plenty already, it is the shoppers that have a challenge in the day time


parking in CBD

Posted on 15-08-2014 06:47 | By rosscoo

Take the Bus it cheaper and know parking hassles.


On the buses

Posted on 15-08-2014 16:59 | By YOGI BEAR

Yes and add to that it is free if 65+ years old. On that side of it there are no excuses really.


Rosscoo and yogibear

Posted on 21-08-2014 03:18 | By Ellajj

Would love to take a bus.....however we live in Te Puke. My point is that if there were a load of empty car parking spaces on the road then, yes, try free parking but there are not. (I've always wondered why there isn't a passenger train service from Te Puke seeing as the tracks run through the town but that's another issue.)


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