Angle parking on Mangawhero to solve Junction parking problem

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 584, 2 May 1995, Page 1

Angle parking on Mangawhero to solve Junction parking problem

Angle parking on Mangawhero Terrace, an elev-enth-hour suggestion, is the option chosen by Ruapehu District Councillors to temporarily alleviate the Ohakune Junction' s car parking problems. At last Friday's full council meeting the issue was discussed, with mayor Garrick Workman putting forward the late proposal which came out of an on-site 'brain storming session' with himself, council chief executive CliffHouston, planner Jeff Page, local resident Bruce Thompson and Powderhorn developer Paul Scarf. The proposal would see the road width increased by five to six metres along the western side of the road from the culvert to opposite the Powderhorn. This option would allow for an extra 30 to 50 car parks. Mr Workman said the proposal would see the integrity of the green area retained while the car parking problem would be resolved in the short term. Mr Houston said they still needed to investigate the whole traffic flows/car parking problem in the Junction area, which would include further consideration of the option to provide angle parking in Thames Street along with a one-way system.

He said the Thames Street option required a lot of study and it would not be possible to implement it in time for this winter, while the Mangawhero Terrace option could be done almost immediately. 'Thames Street may be an option for alleviating the Junction parking problems but it is not available to us in the next few months," said Mr Houston. The long and the short Mr Houston explained that there were two issues — "what do we do now" and "what are the mid to long term solutions to the problem". He said the council would negotiate with Mr Scarf on his contribution to the proposal, bearing iri mind that it would be much cheaper for him than his separate car park proposal. "Provision of car parking is vital to his business and we should be able to reach an effective agreement." Cr Bob Peck asked why the new option was not put to the Waimarino Community Board for consideration. He said he was not against the new proposal but that he was concerned that the need for an urgent decision had "come about in this way". "Maybe the community board should have Jfi.

done what we did yesterday (held an on-site meeting," said Mr Workman. He said the council was not turning away the Waimarino Community Board' s recommendation and that it would still be looked at. Mr Peck said the solution was not as simple as it appeared, that lighting was a problem and that people did not want to see any green area lost. "There is a certain reality to be faced here," said Mr Workman, "people are parking all over the road and also all over the green area already." "This solution minimises the loss of green area

and protects the trees and the stream — it's

really the best of both worlds," said Mr

Houston.

It was asked whether the park-

ing contribution from the

Margaritas proprietors

could be used to help

Davforthe work.

Mr Page said

as long

a s

the money was used in the wider area the^

owner "should not have any reason to.

complain". He said he lost the righ^

to dictate where parking was

provided when he agreed.

to paying a contribu-

tion in lieu of pro- .

viding park-

ing him-

self.