QLDC confirms free CBD parking permits for staff

Although the Queenstown Lakes District Council has confirmed vehicles in its fleet qualify different levels of parking privileges on public land, it is still unknown if certain council staff members are getting a free ride.

Crux reported yesterday on a situation where a Queenstown Lakes District vehicle parked for more than five hours in a prime Queenstown CBD pay and display car park without appearing to pay any fee or receive any penalty.

A spokesperson for the council, supplied by Crux with photos of the vehicle involved, says: "QLDC operates a fleet of vehicles for staff to conduct work throughout the district. Each vehicle displays a permit that allows it to park in Council-owned parking bays with certain restrictions. The vehicle shown in your photos is parking in accordance with its permit and hence no further action is required."

The spokesperson declined to answer questions from Crux on the role of the person driving the vehicle yesterday, and what council work they were conducting in the CBD at the time.

Since then Crux has received information from a reliable source that all members of the QLDC executive management team, including the chief executive, also have 'free parking' permits.

However, Crux has received no response from the council to subsequent follow-up questions on the claim, delivered this morning, including whether employees pay any tax on any parking benefit they receive, the terms of any permits dished out to particular staff, and how regularly staff use such permits.

The Queenstown Airport Corporation has today confirmed it supplies the mayor and council chief executive with free parking permits.

"Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers and QLDC Chief Executive Mike Theelen have been provided with parking passes, which give them access to the public parks at Queenstown Airport. These are not transferable. This has been common practice at QAC for many years."

Main image (Supplied): The QLDC vehicle arrived at the park at 9.47am on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 and departed shortly after 3.20pm - seemingly without having paid and having received no ticket.