Rotorua businessmen Mike Steiner (left) and Ron Finn are pleased with the council's decision to go ahead with a long-term free parking trial. Photo / Stephen Parker
Rotorua businessmen Mike Steiner (left) and Ron Finn are pleased with the council's decision to go ahead with a long-term free parking trial. Photo / Stephen Parker
Parking in parts of central Rotorua will soon become free for two hours after the Rotorua District Council voted to go ahead with a 19-month time-limited free parking trial.
Rotorua district councillors voted unanimously in favour of the long-term trial at a meeting of the council's economic and regulatory servicescommittee yesterday.
Councillors also voted to increase parking fines across the city to fall in line with the charges of surrounding councils and are the maximum allowed under the Land Transport Regulations Act. The parking trial and new fines will come into effect on December 1 and will run until June 30, 2015.
The trial will take place in the core retail area of the Central Business District (CBD) bounded by, but not including, Amohau St, Fenton St, Haupapa St, Amohia St, and the length of Tutanekai St. It will not include the parking building on Hinemoa St.
The council's Economic and Regulatory Services Group manager Mark Rawson said almost 500 parking spaces would become free to use for up to two hours. No parking meters or pay and display units will be used in the selected areas of the trial.
Time spent in a parking space will be electronically monitored with data being sent back to staff, who have been told a 10 minute "grace period" would apply to people exceeding the time limit while electronic signage will point out where there are open parking spaces.
