Win for CBD businesses as QLDC votes for maximum car parks

Note this story was changed on Friday, October 25 to reflect a revised charge of $3.10 an hour to use the Stanley Street car park, rather than the $6 an hour originally used in revenue forecasts.

Councillor Gavin Bartlett quoted Joni Mitchell's iconic 'Big Yellow Taxi' lyrics warning of the risks of paving paradise to put up a parking lot, but it wasn't enough to sway the majority of his council colleagues who today voted to deliver a maximum amount of car parks to a Queenstown CBD site.

While several options were on the table, the call means 17 trees will be cut down to deliver an extra 12 car parks, bringing the total number of parks to 116.

But for three councillors - Mr Bartlett, Niki Gladding, and Melissa White - the equation simply didn't add up.

There will be 116 parking spaces on the Stanley Street site, but 17 trees will go.

Councillor Bartlettt recalled in earlier discussions on developing the site for parking retaining "as many trees as it was possible while still being able to provide a significant amount of parks" had been a priority, yet the staff recommendation today did not reflect that.

He also questioned whether the trees were victim to the ongoing use of a neighbouring site by the roading alliance for its own needs instead of the land being more urgently prioritised for public parking.

"For some reason the contractor...seems to still think they need it for another year."

An accompanying report to today's decision shows approximately 150 car parks will become available in mid to late 2025, when the alliance hands back the site.

Councillor White, who moved an unsuccessful alternative motion that would have seen the trees retained at the expense of the 12 extra parks, stressed her move was not "anti car parking" and allowed the council to still "maximise" parking at the site if not agreeing to the "maximum".

She reminded decision makers the car park was only a temporary use of the site, flagged for the council's Project Manawa - a potential arts and civic precinct.

"I believe keeping those 17 trees at the moment unlocks the potential for those still to be there in the future, with whatever that site looks like.

"I don't think the 12 carparks will made a difference, but the trees will make a huge difference."

Councillor Gladding questioned if removing all 17 trees when other options were available to the council went against the district's tree policy.

"These trees have value to people...they are a value in terms of biodiversity, they have value in terms of shade...you get value in terms of the stormwater that's going to be sucked up.

"Go Joni Mitchell."

Staff confirmed for each of the 17 trees removed, two more would be planted at another location, at a cost of approximately $21,000.

Councillor Matt Wong supported creating the maximum amount of car parks at the expense of the trees, saying it was something the council could do to help out businesses that had been doing it tough for a while.

He said businesses had been asking for more car parking for "many. many years now" and what they had received instead had been Covid-19, the removal of car parks, disruptions due to street upgrades, rates hikes, and increases in outdoor dining fees.

"This council hasn't really helped them that much...I'm going to take a common sense approach to this."

But he pitched a challenge back at business, in response to the loss of the trees: "I challenge you to do a one to 10 ratio (of tree planting) to show your support".

Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sharon Fifield, speaking in the public forum at the start of the council meeting, urged the mayor and councillors to enable the maximum number of car parks possible.

And she was confident businesses would be willing to make amends with the community for the loss of trees as a result.

"I think I can sit here now and say Queenstown business would pretty much match and more your tree policy with replacement tree planting."

The issue was clear cut for Councillor Lyal Cocks, who said, "People have said, 'We want car parks'". It was his view days were already numbered for the trees in question.

"These trees are going at some time to get the true value of that site, I'm almost sure of that, so I think we should cut to the chase."

Councillor Lisa Gut also supported enabling the most number of parks, saying she hoped it would, "Encourage people back to Tāhuna".

She said earlier in the discussion she had felt obliged to save the trees, particularly for their heritage values, but had since changed her feeling.

"Now, instead, I'm like, give me a branch and I'll try and sprout the thing, now give me some more car parks."

Mayor Glyn Lewers finished the debate, making it clear where his priorities lie.

"The voices I hear from the CBD and businesses are they are struggling. They need every extra bit of help they can. Am I going to put a tree in front of someone's livelihood? No."

The recently adopted Long Term Plan budgets $5 million for the development of parking at the Stanley Street site, however council staff are estimating construction costs for the redesign will be only $1.5 million.

While initial revenue modelling allowed for a $6 an hour charge to use the facility, further discussion has seen the charge drop to $3.10 an hour, with no charge from 6pm.

It will now be a stop-start affair until all 116 parks are realised, but a shorter-term parking option for the site should be operational by Christmas, while construction of the longer-term solution is expected to begin at the end of March.