Councillors extend inner city free parking in Hamilton

Thursday, 6 June 2024

While free parking will stay - for a while - it'll drop to an hour in August 2024. People on the street were worried about the effect on diners and CBD workers.

Free parking in the inner city of Hamilton is set to stay - at least for a few more years.

It’s a move likely to please CBD retailers and shoppers alike, though there are changes.

The free parking option will remain till mid-2026, for one hour instead of two, councillors at draft long term plan deliberations on Wednesday agreed.

Some in the city said the shorter time slot is not ideal, but better than nothing.

“I actually do think people deserve to have at least a bit more than an hour free parking because we are paying tax and everything else as well. But it’s totally up to whoever is in charge,” said Stefanie Gloria, a nursing student who enjoys restaurants in the CBD.

Nursing student Stefanie Gloria drives to CBD to visit her favourite restaurants, and usually spends around two hours.

The council’s draft plan had initially suggested free parking was abandoned from January 1, 2025, to be replaced with “demand-responsive” pricing for parking.

Free parking is set for an extension in Hamilton’s CBD till July 2026.

Following feedback - including from the Hamilton Central Business Association - on the benefits of free parking at a tough time economically for businesses, mayor Paula Southgate and her deputy Angela O’Leary came up with an alternative motion.

It called for the two-hour free parking trial to finish on 1 August this year but on that date a one-hour free parking regime would start.

The date was later amended by council staff to 1 October this year, allowing time to implement the change.

This was designed to “help encourage higher turnover of shoppers, while reducing the burden on ratepayers”, the motion said.

They suggested a shift to no free parking and demand-responsive pricing on 1 July 2027, giving three years’ breathing space.

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams has welcomed the council’s change of heart on parking.

But councillor Ewan Wilson, concerned at the amount of unrealised revenue under the current free parking regime, argued for a close-off date of July 1, 2026 instead.

Stretching to 2026 was enough, Wilson said, with an additional year “a little bit too long”.

He stressed the free parking wasn’t actually free. “It’s foregone revenue.”

Southgate and O’Leary’s 2027 motion was solidly defeated but then there was overwhelming support for the 1 July 2026 cut off date.

Association general manager Vanessa Williams said on Wednesday inner city businesses would be pleased at being thrown a lifeline.

“To know that there is some form of [charge-free parking] happening for the next two years, yes I am pleased. I think it is a very reasonable result.”

Stefanie Gloria said she could afford up to $5 per hour for parking to keep visiting her favourite CBD restaurants.

From October, the second hour of parking will cost $3 in high demand areas and $1 in lower demand areas. It’ll be $6 per hour for all areas from the third hour on.

All day paid parking will also change from the current blanket charge at $6, to demand-responsive pricing from $6 to $12.

As a nursing student, Gloria said the cost pressure is already high and she worries about her student loan. She would be able to afford $5 per hour for parking in CBD if that’s what it takes to visits her favourite restaurants.

Selina Kang manages Sweet Home Dumplings on Barton Street, said her customers often spend an hour eating when shopping in town.

She’s worried once free parking shortens or ends, customers will be driven away when they don’t feel an hour is enough time for a meal.

But shortening it is better than scrapping the free parking entirely.

“Most people won’t chose to come here because they can easily shop and dine at more convenient places like The Base.”

Others feel less affected.

Karl Bell, who runs a glass repair business, drives into CBD once a week to meet clients, usually for less than an hour.

“The worst part of town is trying to find a park.”

He managed to find one on Thursday morning, after going around the block.

Those who spend longer in CBD have stronger feelings.

Muay Thai fighter Titus Proctor spends most of his day at the Tihipuke Muaythai Gym, said there should be more free or discounted options for workers.

While he has designated parking for some of the day, he has to park on the street for two hours in the morning, and four in the evening.

Based on the current rate, he would be forking out $30 a day on parking.

He also feels more spaces could be turned into car parks. For example, the bus stop right outside the gym.

“I’ve been training here for four years, I’ve never seen a bus stop outside.”