A special supplement to the October City Scene (which will be delivered to all households in Christchurch this week), provides a summary of a new 36 page document called “Parking Strategy for the Garden City: Consultation Document”. This consultation document, including a submission form, is also on-line at www.ccc.govt.nz/ParkingStrategy.

The draft strategy states that Christchurch faces a parking crisis in the future as population and vehicle numbers in the city continue to increase. Demand for parking is now being experienced across the city – including on inner city streets, around shopping centres, outside educational centres and at sports grounds.

It is proposed in the strategy that in the future, these issues won’t resolve themselves. Instead they will get worse, and most likely at the expense of our city’s attractiveness.

The draft strategy investigates and recommends policy and implementation methods covering all aspects of parking including public and private, in the inner city, business areas, residential areas, recreation/leisure, educational institutions and rural areas.

Councillor Denis O’Rourke says that parking is everybody’s issue because almost every journey we make ends with the need to park in some form.

“We do not have to accept the consequences that may result from conflicting demands over limited parking in the future.

The Council has a vision of providing and managing parking in Christchurch that meets the community’s aspirations, protects the environment, supports economic vitality and complements the overall transport system. By careful planning and management we will aim to provide the best possible use of resources for the community”, said Cr O’Rourke.