Free parking returns to Tauranga boat ramps

Parking for boat trailers near the Pilot Bay, Sulphur Point and Whareroa Reserve boat ramps will be free again. Photo / John Borren

Parking charges for boat trailers in Tauranga have been canned less than two months after they were introduced.

Since July 1 it has cost $20 per day – or $200 for a residents-only annual pass – to park a boat trailer near the Pilot Bay, Sulphur Point and Whareroa Reserve boat ramps.

The charges were put in place by the commission that ran Tauranga City Council until July and were intended to fund boat ramp maintenance and upgrades.

The fees were not popular with many boaties and in June Bevan Harington presented the council with a petition against them signed by 1864 people.

Boat ramp charges were among topics the newly elected council discussed on Monday in a meeting that lasted more than eight hours.

The council decided to can the charges and agreed to refund about $109,000 from annual pass purchases.

General manager community services Barbara Dempsey said the aim was to find a balance between users paying and ratepayer contributions.

During consultation the split between those for and against the charges was 50/50, she said.

Pilot Bay boat ramp car park.

Staff recommended keeping the fees but allowing people from outside Tauranga to buy an annual pass and having an exemption for Community Services cardholders.

A man in the public gallery called out that the charges were a “disgrace” and “ruining businesses”.

“Lots and lots of businesses I’ve spoken to said people are not coming to Tauranga and buying bait and fishing gear.”

He questioned why boaties had to pay when other facilities were free.

Others in the audience continued heckling, and Mayor Mahé Drysdale said those disrupting the meeting would be asked to leave if they did not stop.

Councillor Rick Curach said he and his three neighbours owned boats for recreation and it was great for their mental health.

There were other recreational facilities that ratepayers contributed to without the council collecting user fees, he said.

“Why pick on the people that want to use water as their recreation?”

Councillor Steve Morris wanted the fees 'chucked off the end of the wharf'. Photo / Alisha Evans

Councillor Steve Morris said there had been an “unfair regime” in the past where council “played favourites” with who was charged.

“I want the boat ramps fees chucked off the end of the wharf, dead, and sleeping with the fishes.”

Taupō's boat ramp fee was $6 and those facilities were “superior” to many of the facilities around Tauranga, said Morris.

Drysdale said a lot of community members paid user fees including people who used the indoor courts.

The council needed to be very careful because if they cut boat ramp fees then why would they not cut all the fees for Bay Venues community facilities, he said.

“I absolutely support user fees. I don’t support them being larger than what they’re paying for.”

He said the council was doing $6 million of boat ramp renewals and the boat ramp fees were not going to cover that.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale said he supported people paying for the facilities they used. Photo / Alisha Evans

There were other free boat ramps in the city people could use, said Drysdale.

The council had collected $126,060 from the parking charges – mostly from the 548 resident passes purchased – since July 1.

Councillor Hautapu Baker said removing the fees would open up a can of worms for users of other facilities.

He suggested making the fees lower because $20 a day or $200 annually was “ridiculous”.

Drysdale said he supported reducing the charges but not “scrapping them altogether”.

“People should contribute towards things that they use.”

Councillor Rod Taylor said removing the fees would set a precedent.

The council would have basketball in next week asking to have their fees removed and a long list behind them, he predicted.

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