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Longer limits, Govt exemptions cause drop in council parking revenue
Parking infringements have significantly decreased thanks to longer parking in central Ashburton.
The central section of the West St car park, encompassing 83 parking spaces, was extended from 120 to 180 minutes at the end of February.
The Ashburton District Council reviewed the time-restricted … View moreParking infringements have significantly decreased thanks to longer parking in central Ashburton.
The central section of the West St car park, encompassing 83 parking spaces, was extended from 120 to 180 minutes at the end of February.
The Ashburton District Council reviewed the time-restricted parking as part of the $15m revitalisation of the CBD.
The two end sections of the car park, 142 spaces, are free for all day parking.
Council strategy and compliance group manager Jane Donaldson said parking officers have received some positive verbal feedback when out on patrol.
Before the changes the council’s data showed there was high demand for the all day parking, with 97% peak occupancy, while the central spaces had a peak occupancy of about 60 per cent.
The change has seen a significant reduction in parking infringements.
“A small number of tickets for overstaying are issued each week, approximately three to four, but on the whole, shoppers welcome the additional allowance to get back to their cars on time.
“Previously, two to three tickets a day were issued for overstaying in this area.”
Up until March 31, the council has received only $132,000 from parking in the finical year which is $157,879 off the budgeted intake for the full year of $290,777.
The variance has been put down to the removal of the old coin operated stand-alone parking meters that were removed to make way for the yet to be installed parking sensors.
The council’s financial report also states that parking infringement income was affected by the Government’s introduction of a grace period for warrants of fitness and vehicle registration.
The town’s lone pay and display unit serving the Cass St car park is generating some parking revenue.
The council has also introduced an over 80s parking permit in April that allows a permit holder to park for twice the allotted time in any over 30 minute parks.
Donaldson said the council has so far issued 42 of the permits.
Six months on and still no parking sensors in sight
The disruption of the $15 million CBD revitalisation project is in the rear-view mirror but the project is not fully complete.
The overall project was completed in November except for the installation of the parking sensors.
Six months later they are still yet to even arrive in the country.
… View moreThe disruption of the $15 million CBD revitalisation project is in the rear-view mirror but the project is not fully complete.
The overall project was completed in November except for the installation of the parking sensors.
Six months later they are still yet to even arrive in the country.
“International supply-chain issues have meant they are yet to be delivered,” infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said.
“We checked with our supplier two weeks ago, and they indicated that they approximately three months from arriving in New Zealand.”
The in-ground parking sensors will electronically log when a vehicle parks in a space, then send an alert to a parking warden if the vehicle has overstayed the free time allowed.
The eventual installation of the sensors is expected to cause minimal disruption.
To install the 215-odd sensors, a hole the same size as the sensor is drilled into the road surface in which the sensor is placed, requiring no remediation of the road surface.
Aside from the sensors, and the snag list of minor repairs and outstanding items is being worked through, it has been delivered on time and on budget.
The total expenditure on the project to date is $17,494,993 and with about $97,000 outstanding for the parking sensors it will still come under the approved budget for the project of $17,639,620.
COST BREAKDOWN
Open Spaces $2,581,004
Parking $43,105
Roading:
- Drainage $416,827
- Footpaths $2,898,431
- Kerb and Channel $354,452
- Lighting $1,289,411
- Rain Gardens $1,059,842
- Rehabilitation $3,433,639
- Raised Intersections $441,955
- Roadmarking $108,676
- Street Furniture $102,585
- Signage $256,153
- Traffic Islands $50,821
- Traffic Signals $677,039
Sewer $846,857
Solid Waste $96,828
Stormwater $1,568,586
Water $1,147,972
Services $120,812
TOTAL: $17,494,993
Mayor calls for action at Walnut Ave intersection
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
“We need to do something and it may save someone’s life.”
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown is calling for action around what he deems a serious accident waiting to happen at the Walnut Ave upgrades project.
The intersections of Walnut Ave and State … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
“We need to do something and it may save someone’s life.”
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown is calling for action around what he deems a serious accident waiting to happen at the Walnut Ave upgrades project.
The intersections of Walnut Ave and State Highway 1, and Walnut Ave and East St have been upgraded, but the traffic lights won’t be switched on until the end of the year once they are linked up to an upgraded rail crossing between the two intersections - which KiwiRail is still designing.
In the interim, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has left the all-but completed intersections coned off into roundabouts until KiwiRail completes the rail crossing works.
Brown said he already had concerns before coming across another crash at the site last Wednesday morning.
Brown has suggested temporarily closing the rail crossing as one potential option.
“We could sit here and we can watch it and wait for a more dangerous accident to happen or we can do something.
“Waiting for the end of the year doesn’t seem to be the right thing to do with that intersection.”
He said Kiwirail “seem to have let us down” - or the delivery of its section had been miscalculated.
“The timing just doesn’t seem to be right. We need to do something and it may save someone’s life.”
Waka Kotahi principal project manager transport services Colin McKay said contractors were reviewing safety of the whole work site and had identified a few changes that would help contribute to the safe running of the roundabout.
He said the staging of the project and the KiwiRail work always had completion of the major works by the end of the year.
Waka Kotahi’s intersection works were completed in April but KiwiRail was not ready to start on its section, however South Island general manager operations, Mark Heissenbuttel said the project was running to schedule.
“The level crossing design is progressing well and we will begin physical work later this year.
“We expect the crossing work will be completed and operational in December, and we are working hard to meet this goal.
“We appreciate people’s frustration but ask them to bear with us.”
The level crossing improvements were complex to design, he said, as it included “integrating modern traffic lights, warning bells and the like with much older rail signals in the area and resolving the signals implications of removing the third rail line at the crossing – which takes time".
“It is because of this, and some general supply chain delays with some components, due to Covid, that we could not start physical works earlier," Heissenbuttel said.
Brown has contacted Waka Kotahi and Kiwirail and invited them to appear at a council meeting to discuss the project.
Methven water bore plans stall over setback concerns
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Plans to drill for a potential new Methven water supply have hit an impasse.
An exploratory drill site for a potential new water supply had been found but the landowner has pulled the pin.
Council assets manager Andrew Guthrie said the landowner … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Plans to drill for a potential new Methven water supply have hit an impasse.
An exploratory drill site for a potential new water supply had been found but the landowner has pulled the pin.
Council assets manager Andrew Guthrie said the landowner indicated this week they wish to walk away from the arrangement.
He said the advice the landowner received raised concerns around the impact of regulations for a potential water source, being too restrictive on the property's farming operations and a possible impact on neighbouring land as well.
“They didn’t feel like they were comfortable proceeding with that arrangement.
“At the moment we don’t have an alternative site,” Guthrie said.
Councillor Angus McKay said the regulators have put in setbacks distances that do not take into account the depth the water is sourced and any consideration to natural process of cleaning water.
“To me this is a national disgrace that we are asked by regulators and regional council plans to have setback around drinking water standards, yet when we do our best to find the best cleanest water, we are stymied because of their plans.”
Chief executive Hamish Riach said it was an opportunity to express concerns at the regulations “but I put our chances of amending those regulations at zero”.
“We can make our point but in terms of improving the water supply in Methven we will have to go to the alternate proposal which we are working on in parallel to the bore because we won’t, in my opinion, have any luck in getting the regulation changed."
The exploratory bore project was running in parallel with the membrane treatment plant upgrade project to improve Methven’s water supply.
“Being unable to progress the exploratory bore has no impact, either in scope or cost, on the membrane project,” infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said.
“The membrane project is a comprehensive standalone solution, so a plan B is not required.”
The bore site was chosen by Aquifer Locations Limited, McCann said, at a site where it was believed there was suitable groundwater but also in consideration of council’s desire for it to be close to the existing Methven treatment plant.
“The exploratory bore drilling was to be funded by Aquifer Locations Limited. Council would only incur cost if the bore was successful,” McCann said.
Meanwhile, the $9.4 million upgrade of Methven’s water supply is progressing through the first stage.
The upgrade includes two new reservoirs and a membrane treatment plant.
Concrete foundations for the two large reservoirs have been laid and the steel panels are expected to arrive this month to then be assembled.
Underground pipes linking the new reservoirs to the existing plant and a new future membrane treatment plant to be built nearby are currently being laid.
After the new reservoirs with a combined capacity of 1128 cubic metres are completed, the old concrete reservoir will be drained to allow a comprehensive structural inspection to determine its future viability.
A contract for the supply of the new membrane treatment equipment has been awarded and consultants are finalising designs for how the plant will look.
Construction of the membrane plant is planned to start later this year and could take nine months.
Coast Allied workers strike
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast allied health workers made the case for a better pay deal by mounting two public pickets in Greymouth on Monday.
The allied workers cover 23 professions and 120 West Coast District Health Board union members.
Their 24-hour strike from … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast allied health workers made the case for a better pay deal by mounting two public pickets in Greymouth on Monday.
The allied workers cover 23 professions and 120 West Coast District Health Board union members.
Their 24-hour strike from 11.59pm resulted in two pickets today, at the Te Nikau Hospital and the Greymouth Town Square.
The workers are also on a 12-day 'work to rule' period until this Friday.
DHB therapeutic, rehabilitation, laboratory, occupational therapy and diagnostic services and other clinical support services and Hauora Māori, are all affected.
The dispute has been ongoing for 20 months as allied professionals seek pay parity.
Greymouth allied health worker Rudolf Van der Geest said the Employment Relations Authority recently put a proposal to DHBs to settle but the boards had waited until last Friday to respond, and had still not said what was on the table.
"This is a protest that has been going on for 20 months now. It takes 20 months to have to go to the ERA to get mediation -- still, nothing.
"The sad reality is more people will leave."
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