Hearings Committee
MINUTES
Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Hearings Committee held in the Council Chambers, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, The Octagon, Dunedin, on Friday 15 August 2025, commencing at 9.00 am - Proposed Parking Changes
PRESENT
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Chairpersons |
Cr Jim O’Malley
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Cr Cherry Lucas |
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Members |
Cr Mandy Mayhem |
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IN ATTENDANCE |
Jeanine Benson (Acting General Manager Climate and City Growth), Simon Spiers (Acting Transport Strategy Manager), Abbey Chamberlain (Senior Transport Planner), Simone Handwerk (Transport Planning Team Leader), Sacha Hatton (Transport Regulation Co-ordinator), Cazna Savell (Acting Manager Compliance Solutions), Jill Simson (Planning and Support Manager), John Rowe (Fleet/Parking Operations Team Leader) and Ian Martin (Principal Advisor Road Safety) |
Governance Support Officer Wendy Collard
Councillor Jim O’Malley read a statement recusing himself from this hearing.
Councillor O’Malley left the meeting at 9.06 am and Councillor Cherry Lucas assumed the Chair.
1 Declarations of interest
Members were reminded of the need to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arose between their role as an elected representative and any private or other external interest they might have.
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Moved (Cr Cherry Lucas/Cr Mandy Mayhem): That the Committee:
a) Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register; and b) Confirms the proposed management plan for Elected Members' Interests. Motion carried (HEAR/2025/008) |
A report from Civic provided a schedule of submitters who wished to present to the Committee.
The following submitters presented to the Committee:
Te Rangihīroa Te Rehutai on behalf of Christine Smith
On behalf of Christine Smith, Te Rangihīroa Te Rehutai tabled and spoke to her submission on the proposed parking changes for Albany Street.
Mr Te Rehutai commented, as regular customers of businesses along Albany Street with mobility issues, one of their main concerns was the proposed removal of the existing mobility parks on Albany Street (north side) between Ethel Benjamin Place and Hyde Street. He also commented on the importance of these designated spaces for people with mobility permits and his observations of pedestrian behaviour.
Mr Te Rehutai commented on the location of mobility parks within the city and the need to increase the number.
Ms Smith reiterated Mr Te Rehutai’s points and commented on her concern regarding the removal of the trees.
Ms Chamberlain provided a background to the installation of the new mobility parks and advised that the proposed parks would be of a higher standard with drop kerbs and were larger. She also confirmed that number of mobility parks were increasing as a result of the proposed parking changes.
In response to a question, Mr Spiers commented on the engagement that staff undertook regarding mobility parking.
Gordon Roy, University of Otago
On behalf of the University of Otago, Mr Roy spoke to their submissions in support of the proposed parking changes in particular the proposed safety enhancements to Albany Street which included new pedestrian crossings. He provided a background to a survey which the University had undertaken which had shown there were up to 3000 pedestrian movements to and from each of the two entrances to the campus off Albany Street.
Mr Roy responded to questions on the proposed parking changes and commented that the safety of pedestrians and cyclists outweighed any loss of parking.
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A report from Transport presented information on the proposed zone and enforcement hours for the paid parking on Sundays in the CBD.
There was a discussion on the proposed zone and enforcement hours for the paid parking on Sundays in the Central City.
The Acting Transport Strategy Manager (Simon Spiers) advised that there would be a review of the proposed zone and restrictions prior to the end of 2026.
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Moved (Cr Cherry Lucas/Cr Mandy Mayhem): That the Committee: a) Recommends Council approve the proposed changes to parking and traffic restrictions relating to the proposed zone and enforcement hours for the paid parking on Sundays in the Central City. b) Notes that all parking restrictions previously approved by the Council remain unchanged. c) Notes that a GIS map presenting final proposed restrictions will be available for the Council’s review following endorsement from the Hearings Committee. Motion carried (HEAR/2025/009) |
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Adjournment of meeting |
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Moved (Cr Cherry Lucas/Cr Mandy Mayhem): That the Committee: Adjourns the meeting. Motion carried (HEAR/2025/010)
The meeting adjourned at 9.45 am and reconvened at 9.53 am. |
Jett Groshinski
Mr Groshinski spoke to his submission on the proposed parking changes and advised that he supported the Albany Street Connection Project as it would create safer, more accessible streets that prioritised people and not just cars. He commented that when considering the parking time restrictions the needs of how people move around needed to be balanced especially those with disabilities, placements, etc.
Mr Groshinski advised that he was disappointed that the proposal included the removal of some mature trees outside the University of Otago Library as they added character along with shade and shelter.
Mr Groshinski requested that consideration be given to the proposed number of P5s as he felt that they were impractical.
Mr Groshinski responded to questions.
The Acting Transport Strategy Manager (Simon Spiers) and Senior Transport Planner (Abbey Chamberlain) responded to Mr Groshinski’s concerns.
Otago Regional Council
Jack Cowie (Senior Transport Planner) and Daniel Basubas (Transport Planner) spoke to the Otago Regional Council submission and advised the Albany Street Connection Project delivered a key missing link in the cycle network. Mr Cowie commented that the proposed parking restrictions would support better transport choices in the area by making public and active transport more attractive.
Mr Cowie responded to questions.
Bernice Armstrong
Mrs Armstrong tabled and spoke to her submission in particular the impact the proposed loss of parking would have on the businesses along Albany Street. She commented on the loss of carparking that had already occurred around the city; the behaviour of cyclists; and the discussions she had had with a number of residents and businesses in the area.
Mrs Armstrong advised that she felt that the budget for this project could be used to provide a safe supervised area for students.
Mrs Armstrong responded to questions.
Sharleen Smith, Eureka
Ms Smith spoke to her submission in particular her concerns regarding the proposed P5s in the vicinity of her business. She requested that consideration be given to making these proposed P5 parks have a varying time restriction of P5 Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm and no time restriction before and after these times which would help cater for users of the restaurants.
In response to questions, Ms Smith advised that she would prefer the time restrictions to be P60 as opposed to P5.
The Acting Transport Strategy Manager (Simon Spiers) and Senior Transport Planner (Abbey Chamberlain) responded to questions and provided clarification that enforcement times could be varied by Council.
Liam Harrison – Pedals Dunedin Ltd
Mr Harrison spoke to his submission in support for the proposed parking changes. He commented that the overall Albany Street Connection project was a crucial step towards building a more connected, healthy and productive city by investing in infrastructure which encouraged people to use alternative modes of transport.
Mr Harrison also commented that a connected cycling network provided a safe and continuous routes for people including his staff.
Mr Harrison responded to questions.
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Adjournment of meeting
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Moved (Cr Cherry Lucas/Cr Mandy Mayhem): That the Committee: Adjourns the meeting. Motion carried (HEAR/2025/011)
The meeting adjourned at 10.49 am and reconvened at 11.01 am. |
3 PROPOSED PARKING CHANGES - AUGUST 2025
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A report from Transport presented information on proposed changes to parking, turning and one-way restrictions. It noted that the proposed parking and traffic restriction included the proposed parking restrictions as part of the Albany Street Connection Project.
The Senior Transport Planner (Abbey Chamberlain) clarified that the “No Left Turn” on Albany Street (north side – direction to ANZAC Avenue) should have been “No Right Turn”.
The Acting General Manager Climate and City Growth (Jeanine Benson); Acting Transport Strategy Manager (Simon Spiers) and Senior Transport Planner (Abbey Chamberlain) responded to questions on the proposed parking changes for the Albany Street Connection Project.
As a result of submissions and discussion on the proposed parking changes the Committee recommended that the following changes be made : · Albany Street (north side) the block between Leith Street to Clyde Street the parking restrictions to be 3 x P60s; and 2 x P5s to be Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Albany Street (south side) the block from Hyde Street to Clyde Street the parking restrictions to be 2 x P5 and 4 x P30s to be Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Leith Street West that the 12 x paid P120s the enforcement hours to be Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Albany Street (south side) the block from Clyde Street to Forth Street the parking restrictions of 10 x P240 the enforcement hours to be Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Albany Street (south side) the block from Forth Street to Riego Street South the 11 x paid P240 the enforcement hours to be Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Albany Street (south side) the block from Riego Street to ANZAC Avenue the 4 x paid P240s the enforcement hours to be Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Clyde Street (eastern side) the block from Frederick Street to Albany Street (Clyde Street East) the 16 x paid P120s the enforcement hours to be Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Clyde Street (western side) the block from Frederick Street to Albany Street the 1 x paid P120s the enforcement hours to be Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; · Riego Street (eastern side) the 15 x paid P120s the enforcement hours to be Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
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Moved (Cr Cherry Lucas/Cr Mandy Mayhem):
That the Hearings Committee:
Adjourns the meeting. Motion carried
The meeting adjourned at 11.47 am and reconvened 12.09 pm.
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Cr Lucas recorded her recommendation to Council that she was not in support of the proposed parking changes relating to the Albany Street Connection Project. If changes were to proceed, the Cr Lucas favoured the changes above being made.
As the Councillors had opposing views and no recommendation could be made, it was agreed that the Albany Street Connection Project Proposed Parking Changes would be presented to Council for their consideration with the inclusion of the suggested changes.
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The meeting closed at 12.16 pm.
CHAIRPERSON