David Gamble, Chairman of the Automobile Association's Otago District Council says "Dunedin City Council needs to adopt a far more enlightened and less punitive approach to the transport needs of its residents and ratepayers."

The Dunedin City Council's new parking strategy signals price increases for inner city parking, both short-term and long-term.

"The new parking strategy will result in significant additional costs to many workers and shoppers, who have no realistic alternative but to use their cars. It will affect the profitability of inner city businesses, especially with respect to out-of-town customers who will take their business elsewhere, and it will create recruitment issues for employers," says Mr Gamble.

"The AA is particularly concerned by the Dunedin City Council's politically correct philosophy underpinning the parking strategy changes - namely that cars are an inherent evil that result in nothing more than congestion, air pollution, noise and obesity."

"Such a philosophy ignores the reality that cars provide significant personal mobility, safety and economic benefits, as well as social freedom."

"Dunedin has a limited public transport network so motorists have little alternative but to use their cars. Moreover, our population growth is essentially static so there is little additional demand for parking."

"Improving the quality and frequency of public transport, as is currently occurring, is very laudable. However, the AA advocates 'a carrot rather than a stick' approach to encourage motorists to utilise these services. Changing the current parking regime, and thereby making the use of a private motor vehicle more costly, is not the answer."

For more information contact

David Gamble
Chairman, Otago District Council
New Zealand Automobile Association
M. +64 21 467 528

The New Zealand Automobile Association is an incorporated society with over one million members. It represents the interests of road users who collectively pay over $2 billion in taxes each year through fuels excise, road user charges and GST.