Proposed Roading Bylaw changes
Project Update
Council received six submissions from the February 2023 consultation, four in favour of the amendments to the bylaw, one partly in favour and one against.
On Wednesday, 31 May 2023, Council approved two amendments:
- Parking on footpaths and cycle paths will be restricted, and anyone damaging the footpath may be required to pay for the repair.
- The bylaw law will now align with the Land Transport (Offense and Penalties) Regulations 1999 for parking enforcement fees. This is a graduated scale of fines that reflects the offence and alignment to the regulations, and is the method used by other councils when making a bylaw. A parking offence of not more than 30 minutes over the specified time limit would incur a $12 fine, graduating upwards for more than six hours, to a $57 fine. All other parking offences would range between $40 and $60.
Funding of $2,500 per year is currently allocated through the Long-term Plan for parking enforcement, with income received through infringements offsetting additional expenditure.
The Council would use new technology to enable more efficient issuing and processing of parking infringements. The technology will also allow reminder notices to be sent. Any unpaid fines are automatically lodged with the court.
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The Central Otago District Council is wanting your feedback on the proposed amendments to its Roading Bylaw 2020.
The current Roading Bylaw was adopted by Council on 18 November 2020 following a review of the 2015 Roading Bylaw which recommended several minor amendments designed to modernise and simplify the existing bylaw. Community boards considered proposed changes to parking restrictions in June/July 2020 and their recommendations were incorporated into the Roading Bylaw 2020.
An update is now proposed to make two amendments to this bylaw, including:
- the restriction of parking on footpaths and cycle paths
- the alignment of parking enforcement fees to the Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Regulations 1999.
Parking restrictions
The Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 specifies no parking on a footpath or cycle path, so it is proposed an amendment to Council’s Roading Bylaw is made to reflect this. In addition, anyone causing damage may be required to pay for repair of the damage to the satisfaction of Council. Under the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 parking on footpath or cycle path may result in a fixed infringement of $40.
Parking enforcement fees
The proposal to update the Roading Bylaw 2020 to align to the fines listed in the Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Regulations 1999 would see a graduated scale of fines (ranging from $12-60) introduced to reflect the offence and see CODC match the method used by most other councils.
Continued growth within Central Otago contributes to an increased amount of traffic on local roads and demand for parking spaces in towns. A roading bylaw continues to be the most appropriate and proportionate mechanism of responding to roading-related problems and accommodating residents and visitors to Central Otago. It best allows Council to meet its aim of providing a safe, efficient, and effective roading network.
Council staff are currently updating systems to enable more efficient and automated processes for issuing, processing and payment of infringements, and working on an enforcement strategy and education plan in preparation for proposed changes.
For full details including a breakdown of the range of offences and associated fines, please read the Statement of Proposal.
Feedback closes at 5pm, Monday 27 February 2023.
