Attention Christchurch motorists! Get ready to pay for parking at the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. The previously free 620 parking spots will now require payment starting November 18. The decision was delayed for three weeks to allow the public to get accustomed to the new meters and ensure smooth operations before ticket enforcement begins.
Thirty-one parking meter stations have been set up in various areas, with the possibility of adding more based on parking patterns. The move comes after city councillors voted in June to implement paid parking to discourage all-day parking by central city workers.
Parking at the Gardens and Hagley Park will cost $2 for the first hour and $1.30 for each additional hour, with a maximum charge of $4.60 for three hours. These fees will apply seven days a week from 8am to 5pm. Despite the introduction of charges, the rates are still lower than on-street parking to support recreational park users.
The city council estimates that the paid parking changes will generate approximately $2.1 million in annual revenue. This initiative aims to address parking issues and ensure a better experience for visitors to the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park.
– By Geoff Sloan, made with the support of NZ On Air
