Residents are praising a pilot initiative to increase parking time limits at one of Auckland’s most ticketed streets.
By Torika Tokalau for Local Democracy Reporting
Parking around Onehunga Mall will increase from 30 minutes to an hour, and 120 minutes in some places, from late April for 12 months.
The move by the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board and Auckland Transport is addressing ongoing parking challenges in the town centre.
Residents like Ingrid Van Heusden have been frustrated with the 30-minute parking limits at Onehunga Mall for years, and welcomes the change.
“They should make it permanent,” she said.
According to AT, Onehunga Mall was recorded as the second highest ticketed street in the region last year with 8782 parking tickets. Princes St near Auckland University was the highest with 10,626 tickets.
The mall also ranked sixth overall for revenue generated, with a whooping $196,308 collected in infringement fees.
Heusden was ticketed last year after she spent more than 30 minutes at a hair salon.
“It’s been a nightmare going to Onehunga Mall. This morning, I went there for a haircut and it took about 45 minutes, 30 minutes was just not going to cut it ... and you don’t get your nails done for half an hour.”
Heusden said she has avoided coming to Onehunga Mall in the past, and only did when she had an appointment.
“I think it’s encouraging people to park, go to a shop, get back in their car, drive up the mall and park to go to another store.
“Which is discouraging people from exercising and put more traffic on the road, rather than someone just parking up and walking around, then going to the shop they need to.”
The pilot will introduce new timed parking limits, including 60-minute parking (P60) along Onehunga Mall between Church and Grey streets, and 120-minute parking (P120) on surrounding streets including Princes, Church and Arthur streets.
Another resident said she was fined for parking three minutes over the limit.
“It’s crazy because I had popped into the bank and no way did I think it was going to take more than half an hour. There was a queue,” Rosie Smith said.
Another resident who worked as a hairdresser at Onehunga Mall 15 years ago said the parking limits have killed businesses in the area.
“I just refuse to go there any more. My girlfriends want to meet for coffee but I just say I can’t because you can’t have coffee and pop into Postie for 30 minutes.”
Local Board chair Debbie Burrows said in a statement the existing 30-minute restrictions were no longer working as intended.
A number of factors, including changes to the road layout, the January fire, and increased pressure on the town centre, all contributed to the issue, she said.
The existing P30 parking on Onehunga Mall between Princes and Church streets will remain in place, and additional improvements would also be explored to help visitors more easily locate off-street parking options.
There would be no changes to mobility parking spaces, loading zones, bus stops or taxi stands.
Burrows encouraged the community, visitors and local businesses to provide feedback on the trial online, or through local drop-in sessions.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
SHARE ME