Upgraded CBD parking meters set to be installed

Published on 14 March 2022

The parking meter upgrade in Whanganui’s town centre is about to begin.

Now that base plates have been installed for each new meter, the removal of existing meters in Victoria Avenue and surrounding areas, followed by the installation of the new parking meters is scheduled to start on Friday, 18 March 2022. This work will take three days, weather dependant, and the new meters are expected to be operational from Monday, 21 March.

Removal and installation work for all side-street and off-street parking meters will begin on Wednesday, 16 March. The upgraded meters in these areas will also be operational from Monday, 21 March.

Whanganui District Council’s compliance operations manager, Jason Shailer, says, “The upgrade of parking meters in Whanganui’s CBD will simplify parking for locals and visitors alike.

“The new Metro Lite Touch meters operate on a ‘pay-by-plate’ parking system and feature three payment methods – coins, tap-and-go (credit/debit card) and a smartphone app. The number of meters will also be reduced from 216 to 53, lessening the visual impact that’s often associated with parking meters.”

With the improvement to the city’s parking meters will come a brief period of disruption to some CBD businesses and visitors.

Jason Shailer says, “There will be a minor amount of noise connected with the removal of the existing meters, and this work may result in a partial cordoning of some footpath areas in Victoria Avenue while pavers are reinstated. Once the old meters are removed, a small number of parking bays will also be temporarily closed while the new meters are installed.

“The council apologises for any temporary inconvenience this work may cause, and we thank the community for their patience and support of this project.”

In relation to the parking meter upgrade, the council is also reviewing its parking management plan and parking bylaw, which opens for community consultation later this year.

This review will consider time limits for on-street parking, the council’s off-street parking areas, SuperGold card and mobility parking permits, parking tariffs, parking options in Rutland Street, as well as town-centre parking for bicycles, scooters and other micro-mobility options.

Before this formal consultation begins, the council is seeking feedback on whether any changes should be made to the current parking rules via an online survey. This link also includes a map of parking areas in Whanganui's town centre and other supporting information.