News Release
Tuesday 20 March 2012

Low patronage means car park building to close Saturdays

ROTORUA 20.03.12 : Rotorua District Council is closing its Pukuatua Street car park building on Saturdays due to lack of patronage.

Council City Services Manager Dennis Olliver says since August 2011 an average of just two cars have utilised the building on Saturdays.

“The council is very conscious about keeping its operational costs as low as possible. Given the car park building's total capacity of 245 spaces and the cost of providing an on-site attendant, an occupancy rate of less than 1% is simply not sustainable.

“We are in lean times and people aren’t spending as much money in town shopping. So city streets aren’t being used as much and subsequently parking spaces are easier to find.

“If things start to pick up again, which I’m sure they will with an economic recovery at some point, we’ll look at the possibility of re-opening the car park building on Saturdays.”

Mr Olliver says more than half the carpark building is utilised during week days, and some of this usage is a response to the council’s $5 all-day parking offer on the top floor.

“People can come to work in the city and park all day for a very good price. However this deal doesn’t attract people on a Saturday when street parking is free from 12pm, and closer to shops.”

The Pukuatua Street car park building will close on Saturdays with effect from the second week of April (14 April).

ENDS

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