Free parking, bus rides mooted to bring shoppers back to CBD

Councillor Terry Molloy has ideas to improve foot traffic in the CBD. Photo/George Novak

Free bus rides for shoppers and upping the hourly parking rate to $6 - first two hours free - are among the ideas to be put to the council today in an effort to bring shoppers back to the Tauranga CBD.

Tauranga City councillor Terry Molloy said "urgent action" was needed to give relief to CBD businesses struggling to convince customers and clients to visit when parking was so hard to find.

Molloy has lodged a notice of motion, supported by Rick Curach, that would require council staff to investigate his seven ideas and report back to the council on November 27.

His motion would be considered at a full council meeting that would begin at 1pm today.

Molloy said he supported efforts to reduce car dependency but meaningful transport alternatives to cars were "some years away".

"The community cannot be left behind. At this point, I think we have done just that."

Tauranga Mainstreet chairman Brian Berry, who this month told the council retailers were feeling the pain of a lack of carparks and city centre construction, said it was good to see recognition the problem needed to be dealt with now.

"It's a step in the right direction - better than no action or deferring action for a few years."

He was not sure about the idea for two hours of free parking, saying the Mainstreet board would prefer a three-hour parking limit, but said it would help level out the playing field for competition between malls or big box retailers and the CBD.

Mayor Greg Brownless also preferred a time limit over increased parking fees, which the rich may be able to absorb but would hit the poor harder.

Seven ideas to up CBD foot traffic

1. First two hours CBD parking free, $6 per hour after that, 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
2. Move leased carparks in Spring St carparking building to the top levels. Charge for parks per hour required, and make parks available to the public outside required hours.
3. Investigate CBD park and ride services from Sulphur Point, Memorial Park, Dive Cres and Gate Pa Bowling Club.
4. Promote ride-sharing apps.
5. Partner with Tauranga Mainstreet to investigate free bus rides if you present a shopping receipt.
6. Allow vehicles with more than three passengers to park at a reduced rate in off-street CBD parks.
7. Aggressively explore temporary parking opportunities in the CBD.

Source: Tauranga City Council

Downtown retailers happy to hear ideas

Terry Molloy's ideas for upping downtown foot traffic were well received by retailers yesterday.

The Bay of Plenty Times spoke to three retailers and a cafe owner, all of whom were happy to hear the parking situation frustrating their customers would be up for discussion.

Moving the leased carparks up appealed to Repertoire store manager Kyleigh O'Sullivan.

"There is nothing more discouraging than having to drive up five floors to find a parking space, especially if you want to pop in for a short time."

Free parking advocate Bill Campbell, owner of Fancy That, was also keen on the move up, but thought it was unrealistic to expect business owners to free up leased parks for the public.

"We need to do something as the parking in downtown Tauranga is a bloody mess," he said.

He would like to see at least three free hours before charges kicked in.

Dry Dock Cafe owner Sandra Johnson said the two hours of free parking would be an incentive for shoppers to come to the CBD.

"The $6 per hourly charge does sound a bit steep but it would mean a greater regular turnover of the carparks," she said.

AJ's Lotto owner Jensen Zeng said free parking was good but two hours was too long as people would park strategically.

The free buses proposal was a good idea but it needed to include a spending threshold of $10 to $15.