Free parking step closer

Free parking in Rotorua is becoming a reality.

The early preparation for Rotorua's free car parking programme in the inner city is well under way, with installation work progressing ahead of schedule.

The Rotorua District Council is in the process of implementing the new parking programme, Park Rotorua, which will come into effect on December 2 for an 18-month trial. The parking improvements are a direct response to community feedback during consultation on the council's current Annual Plan.

Park Rotorua includes free two-hour parking (P120) in the immediate inner-city area, unlimited metered parking on the inner-city fringes and free unlimited parking on the perimeter of the city. The installation phase of the programme involves putting in innovative wireless in-ground sensors across about 1500 inner city parking spaces, including both the metered and P120 bays. The sensors will monitor the P120 free spaces, providing notifications directly to council staff about parking overstays. Data will also be collated from other sensors about paid and unlimited parking spaces, to help develop council parking plans.

The P120 parking initiative has been designed to support the growth and revitalisation of the inner city by providing better and fair parking options for shoppers, visitors, workers and inner-city businesses.

Council Inner City Enterprises manager Nick Dallimore said the installation work had progressed well over the first two weeks, with a total of 835 sensors now installed - around half the overall number.

"The majority of sensors in the P120 limited parking area have now been completed. Progress earlier in the week was hampered by the wet weather, but overall work has remained largely uninterrupted. All going well over the weekend, work will begin again on Sunday afternoon."

Installation began on October 29 at the southern end of the inner city, with current work being undertaken at night (7pm until 5am) from Sundays through to Thursdays so as to minimise disturbance to retail outlets in the area. As work progresses north through the inner city towards accommodation and eateries, it will move to a morning programme.

Mr Dallimore said the council and its contractors, Smart Parking, were committed to minimising the impact of the installation phase on all inner-city users. "That is why we will move to a morning schedule from the current night-time schedule as we progress further through the inner city."

Those affected are being informed street-by-street about pending work. Currently, people are being asked to vacate parking spaces by 5pm on the relevant night.

To date, work has been completed on Eruera and Pukuatua Sts, along with Tutanekai, Hinemoa and Arawa Sts. Further information about Park Rotorua will be promoted before the new system comes into effect on December 2.