The purpose of the 20/20 Vision plan of Whangarei is to revitalise the heart of the city.

Today the Whangarei District Council issued a media release: “The first step in the revitalisation of Whangarei’s Central Business district has been taken with selection of a preferred proposal to develop a public transport Hub, carpark and associated buildings on the Vine Street/Walton Street/Rose Street corner.” WDC media release
The whole purpose of revitalising the CBD may be stymied by the Council’s desire to use a public/private partnership to finance the development. The Vine Street Development Information Memorandum states in part: (3.2) “Council undertakes to manage the CBD carparking time limits and charges at the level that is economic for the provision of privately financed car parking building, subject to the reasonableness of the requirements.” The Fair Trading Act (1986) clearly states that this arrangement is outlawed to protect consumers.

Not only is it against the law, but lessening the time, and increasing the fees at all WDC carparking in the CBD will drive even more customers to the satellite retail centres with their free parking.

Surely, how the carparking building is resourced should be adequately scoped before we get this far down the track.