Submission
Which parking changes proposal would like to comment on
Bath St new parking layout
Do you support or oppose the proposed changes?
I/We oppose the proposed changes
What is your feedback on the proposed changes
I'm writing to strongly urge DCC to re-consider the proposed "variable parking" change to the currently "Authorised Tour Vehicle" bus parks on George Street outside the I-Site information centre. Tour vehicle parking in and around the Octagon is already limited and problematic. The only dedicated bus parking near the Octagon is on upper Stuart St outside St Pauls Cathedral. These are often full during the summer time. The existing Authorised vehicle parking directly outside I-site and City Council entrance is often full of other Authorised cars and vans making it impossible for our buses to stop there. Last summer we relied heavily on the George St bus stop for our 20 and 40 seater buses to use as a pickup and drop off zone, specifically for our passengers can have free time in the Octagon for 45 minutes to an hour at midday. This supports local Octagon businesses with our passengers shopping at gift shops, visiting cafes and bars for lunch.
In my professional opinion as a tour bus driver and local tour operator, the proposed change to variable parking for the George St bus stop is short sighted and completely un-workable. Making it available as general car parking for the majority of the time, and only available for tour vehicles on cruise ship days, it is very likely people will not notice the digital bus stop sign on cruise ship days and continue to park their cars there. This will limit our ability to drop off and pickup large groups of tourists who spend money in the Octagon. There may also be further safety issues with having a bus stop merged with carparking, as it could cause confusion and lead to cars parking on bus stops in other parts of Dunedin.
Other tour operators also use this area outside of cruise ship days for their pickups and drop offs, often after hours when there's nowhere else to park. Afterall the I-site doesn't close down on non-cruise ship days! The Octagon is right now the centre for tourists to visit and enjoy the vibrancy, arts and culture that represents Dunedin so well. We get super positive feedback from our passengers after visiting the Octagon. It is also the gateway to George St which is now looking fantastic after the upgrade. When using our cars, we personally have not had any issues finding a park on the new improved George St. I think most of the parking complaints happened before it was finished. I would be interested to know if DCC has undertaken any feedback or research on local's perceptions of car parking availability in George St now that the revamp has been completed. There are already plenty of car sized parks available throughout our city centre, yet large vehicle parking is extremely limited. Please do not take this essential tour vehicle parking away.
Supporting information
Submitter
Submission id number: 1136658
Submitter name:
Kim Kim
Last name
Hayward
Organisation
Iconic Tours NZ Limited
In what capacity are you providing your feedback?
Tour Operator affected by proposed parking layout change