Works to upgrade the Dive Crescent off-street car park are now complete.

Tauranga City Council says the car park will re-open on Monday, August 14, with "more than 100 car parks available for the community to use".

"The car park will be free for people to use on weekends and public holidays, with a maximum daily charge of $8 per day during weekdays between the hours of 8am and 5pm.

"This upgrade forms part of our plans to revitalise the city centre and transform the waterfront in this area, and we’ve also completed landscaping to beautify this entrance into our city."

The re-opening of the car park comes just a couple of months ahead of the second phase of roll-out parking changes in the city centre.

The second phase of changes were due to be rolled-out around the city centre fringe in November this year, however the Commission yesterday approved a staggered roll-out of changes over the next 12 months.

Infrastructure general manager Nic Johansson says while our city centre is undergoing a major transformation, it is important for Council to continue to assess the current parking environment.

“As the city centre is transformed over the next few years, there will inevitably be disruption. We acknowledge the need to make sure parking options are adapted accordingly, and by staggering the roll-out, we can be agile with the way these planned changes are implemented

“This gradual roll-out will help address the pressure being put on residential streets, as the city centre fringe becomes a high-demand parking area. It also allows us to keep monitoring parking demand in the city centre and ensure we are reducing disruption for residents and local businesses while the city centre transformation takes shape.” 

The city centre parking changes will now be spread over the next year, giving more time for the community to adapt to the evolving environment in the city centre. The roll-out is currently planned as follows: 

• Phase two: November 1, 2023 - Paid on-street parking to be introduced around the fringe of the city centre including Third Ave, Fourth Ave, Arundel Street, Westbay Lane, McLean Street, Monmouth Street, Anson Street and extending a section of First Ave, Second Ave and Devonport Road (refer to map for full overview of new paid parking zone) 
• New proposed date for phase three: From April 1, 2024 - Paid parking to be expanded west of Cameron Road, from the remainder of Third Ave to Hamilton Street 
• New proposed date for phase four: From September 1, 2024 – Time-restricted zones to be installed from Fifth Ave to Eleventh Ave.