Many new developments in Auckland have little or no parking. Photo / Dean Purcell
An Auckland councillor who lives in an intensified housing block says axing minimum parking requirements from government policy is “a mistake” and is “dangerous for residents”.
Controversial housing-densification rules about how many properties are allowed to be built in Auckland are set to change. Housing Minister Chris Bishop plans to reduce the two million housing number over the next decade.
Left-leaning Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward councillor Josephine Bartley, who rides an e-bike, drives an electric car and uses public transport, shared a post to social media saying minimum parking leaves residents without options.
Before 2020, minimum parking requirements specified the number of off-street parking spaces a new development had to provide. The Labour Government abolished those regulations, aiming to encourage intensification and reduce emissions and car dependency.
In a post to Facebook which signalled an about-turn, Bartley said: “I haven’t said this before because I supported the intention of it, but I think enough time has passed now ... we can see it’s clearly not working for those of us who experience living in intensified neighbourhoods.”
Bartley used high-density housing in her own ward covering southeastern parts of Auckland as an example. She said that while there was meant to be one car park per house, there should also be allowance for visitor parking and multigenerational households.
“The public ends up paying for it because the public roads are being used for parking, and the developer gets away with providing a bare minimum one car park, if any.”
Bartley said it’s made driving conditions in neighbourhood streets dangerous.
“This results in people parking in shared driveways, blocking vital access should emergencies happen.
“In my block of 17 homes, it results in people parking on footpaths blocking wheelchair access and prams, it results in people parking on both sides of narrow roads, meaning you have to find a way to squeeze your car through a small gap ...”
She said while there was a benefit to having trees in suburbs, they should be planted on the side of the road rather than down the middle.
Bartley acknowledged families have used garages as bedrooms rather than for cars and noted it was a factor in financial struggles.
While there tend to be bus, train and cycle options close to suburban housing, some people still needed cars, she said.
“The Government, both sides, need to admit that while well-intentioned, it’s not realistic, and we are seeing the fallout of it now.”
Bartley said that while she was in support of different options for travel around the city, minimum parking has caused more harm than good.
“I have an e-bike I use the cycle lanes, I catch the bus to work and I also have an electric car, so I’m very mindful of my emissions, but this is ideology being exploited for money ...
“It’s election year, please reinstate minimum parking requirements.”
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown acknowledged the rules had caused problems but blamed the previous Government for abolishing requirements.
He said effects were visible across the city, particularly in areas with narrow streets and competing demands such as rubbish collections, citing Hobsonville, Tāmaki and neighbourhoods where Kāinga Ora housing was being developed.
Housing Minister Bishop rejected the concerns and said earlier rules relating to three-storey homes had been replaced with new rules which focused on intensification near transport routes, and there was nothing to stop developers from providing car parks.
