Boaties will soon have to pay to park their trailer near some boat ramps in Tauranga.

It will cost $20 per day to park a boat trailer near the Pilot Bay, Sulphur Point and Whareroa Reserve boat ramps.

Tauranga residents, clubs and businesses will be able to purchase a $200 yearly pass for their trailer instead of paying the daily charge.

The charges will come into effect from July 1.

Tauranga City Council adopted bylaws that would enable the parking charges at a meeting on Monday.

Money raised from the parking charges will go towards maintaining the boat ramps.

The annual cost of maintenance and depreciation of the ramps is $223,691 according to a council report.

“The really critical thing is we're doing this so that we can improve the quality and the quantity of our boat ramps and raise the finance to do that,” says Commission chair Anne Tolley.

Council head of transport Nic Johansson says the fee isn’t a parking charge per se.

“It’s a boat ramp charging fee for which we are collecting money via the parking.

“In order to get willing compliance we think it's really good if the boat ramp users understand that this actually goes towards the maintenance upkeep of the boat ramps.”

Commissioner Stephen Selwood wanted to ensure people were aware of the fees before they were implemented. Photo: Alex Cairns /Bay of Plenty Times.

Commissioner Stephen Selwood says his concern is notifying current boat ramps users about the fees.

“Often when change occurs the biggest reaction is, ‘I didn't know about this’, it comes as surprise.”

He questions if there are plans to put notices on windscreens or other communication so people can be prepared for the change.

Council parking strategy manager Reece Wilkinson says there will be a heavy educational aspect before the charges are rolled out.

There are plans to put flyers on windscreens, the council is working with local clubs including fishing clubs and is also developing a communications strategy, he says. 

There will also be a grace period where people are issued warnings instead of fines for not paying for parking to ensure everyone is informed, says Wilkinson.

The fee for not paying for parking will be $60, he says.

The council consulted on the fees as part of the 2024-34 long-term plan.

There were 238 submissions about the boat trailer fees, 47 per cent were opposed to the fee and 48 per cent supported it, the rest were neutral.

Reasons from those opposed included the fees would discourage people from getting out on the water, the ramps are paid for through rates already and other facilities like skateparks and cycleways weren’t charged, so why should boat ramps cost?

People in support of the charges said the boat ramps are used by non-ratepayers who should pay their share, and residents that don’t use boat ramps shouldn’t have to pay for them.

Others supported the fee but said they expected a higher level of service.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.