QTS-114 · Transport strategy · 2026Draft
Comprehensive Parking Management Plan (QLDC Parking Bundle Working Version: Parking Strategy, Parking Guidelines, and Frankton, Queenstown and Wānaka Parking Management Plans)
Marked 'Working version' by its author. Publicly released by QLDC on February 2026.
Draft working compilation of Queenstown Lakes District Council's parking management documents: the Parking Strategy (developed in 2024), the Parking Guidelines with technology, cost and implementation appendices, and Parking Management Plans for Frankton, Queenstown and Wānaka. The initial work was by Stantec on behalf of QLDC, with later updates by QLDC. The strategy sets five objectives, from prioritising access by user need to quality, people-focused urban environments. It notes that parking availability and cost are among the most significant factors in how people choose to travel, and that parking changes need to be paired with better public transport, walking and cycling. The guidelines set out restrictions, pricing, permits, enforcement, technology and monitoring, and say increasing supply does not align with the strategy. The area plans propose expanded paid parking and time limits by precinct (e.g. $6.50/hour in Queenstown's historic core, rising to $7.50 by 2027/28), resident permit schemes for Queenstown and Frankton, coach, campervan, loading, mobility, bike and motorcycle parking changes, and real-time parking information. Frankton's public parking remains free, with 48-hour limits on 90% of on-street spaces. Queenstown expects 548 extra publicly available off-street spaces in 2024/25. Dedicated park and ride is described as not yet viable. The document does not refer to mass rapid transit; 'gondola' refers only to the Skyline tourist gondola and its car park.
What the document says
Context and purpose: The bundle brings together QLDC's Parking Strategy, Parking Guidelines and three area Parking Management Plans (PMPs) as one 'Comprehensive Parking Management Plan' (p2). It is marked 'Working Version' and carries a DRAFT watermark (p1-2). The strategy is said to have been developed in 2024 and consulted on over the 2023/24 summer, with parking surveys in October 2023 and February 2024 (p2, p86). The acknowledgement notes that Stantec initiated the documents for QLDC and that QLDC has updated them since 2024/25 (p143).
Parking Strategy: The five objectives are to prioritise access according to user needs, encourage mode shift and reduce emissions, support a prosperous local economy, support a safe and efficient transport network, and contribute to quality, people-focused urban environments (p2). The strategy says 'the availability and cost of parking is one of the most significant factors that determines how a person chooses to get around' (p6). Context includes high car ownership (nearly three-quarters of households with two or more vehicles in 2023), bus patronage records in 2024/25, removal of minimum parking requirements under the NPS-UD, and residential parking pressure (p10-13). The strategy states that parking changes in isolation from practical alternatives are unlikely to be supported. It describes complementary TDM (pricing, traffic and speed management, shared mobility, behaviour change, integrated land use) and notes that road pricing and congestion charging need central government legislation (p14-15). It ends with principles, engagement, and monitoring and evaluation (p23-25).
Parking Guidelines: These set out user and vehicle priorities and allocation by land use (p30-40), how supply is managed (p41), and demand management through time restrictions, paid parking (fees reviewed annually through the Annual Plan/LTP), permits and enforcement (p42-52). The guidelines state that 'managing demand through increasing parking supply does not align with the objectives in our Parking Strategy' (p46). Parking revenue is expected to rise, and Transport Management Associations could help decide how it is reinvested, including possibly subsidising public transport (p53). Other sections cover land-use planning and the Proposed District Plan (p53-55) and school parking (p56). Dedicated park and ride facilities 'are not yet viable due to the investment required... combined with the infrequent public transport and lack of bus priority on our key arterial transport corridors' (p57). Appendices cover technology, indicative permit costs and an implementation plan with PMP triggers (generally sustained occupancy above 85%), permits, advocacy (infringement penalties, rental vehicle fines, berm parking) and monitoring (p58-66).
Frankton PMP: There are 1,537 public spaces (1,497 on-street), all free, with 48-hour limits on 90% of on-street spaces, plus about 1,560 private spaces (p71). Airport-related overspill affects residential streets (p73). The plan describes the Queenstown Package and the Queenstown Public Transport Business Case (p71). Actions include a residential permit zone, a review of the 48-hour limit, P180 in the Gray Street car park, shorter Frankton Village limits from 2027, school-area changes and mobility parking (p76-78).
Queenstown PMP: There are 3,006 public spaces (2,168 on-street, 838 off-street) and about 2,530 private spaces (p85). Only 182 on-street spaces are paid (p86). The Skyline car park (297 spaces, July 2024) and Ballarat Street (120 reinstated April 2025, 131 new by December 2025) add 548 off-street spaces (p86). Surveys show very high on-street demand (p87-94). The plan proposes precinct pricing and time limits: historic core $6.50/hour rising to $7.50 by 2027/28 with P90; inner $4/hour with P180; outer $2.50-$4/hour with a six-hour cap; and fringe P180 (p107-114). Other measures are a resident permit scheme, coach, campervan, SPSV, loading, motorcycle and bike parking changes, and real-time occupancy and wayfinding (p95-106).
Wānaka PMP: All public parking is currently free (p125). Proposed actions are paid parking at $1-$2/hour in core and Pembroke precincts, coach and campervan charges, staged fringe restrictions with resident permits, and event measures (p129-142).
Mass rapid transit: The document says nothing about mass rapid transit or offline public transport between Frankton and the Town Centre. The only cableway references are to the Skyline Gondola tourist attraction, which is not mass rapid transit, its upgrade works and its new multi-storey car park (p83-84, p86, p109). Public transport is discussed in terms of buses, the Queenstown Public Transport Business Case's bus-based preferred option (p84) and the non-viability of park and ride (p57).
Key figures
- Queenstown study area: 3,006 public spaces (2,168 on-street, 838 off-street) and about 2,530 private spaces (p85)
- Only 182 on-street spaces in Queenstown town centre are paid (p86)
- 548 additional publicly available off-street spaces in Queenstown 2024/25: Skyline 297 (July 2024), Ballarat St reinstated 120 (April 2025), Ballarat St new 131 (December 2025) (p86)
- Historic core pricing $6.50/hr (2025/26), $7.00 (2026/27), $7.50 (2027/28), P90 (p109); inner precinct $4/hr, P180 (p110); outer $2.50–$4/hr with six-hour cap (p113)
- Frankton: 1,537 public spaces, all free; 48-hour limits on 90% of on-street spaces; about 1,560 private spaces (p71)
- Nearly three-quarters of district households had two or more vehicles in 2023 (p10)
- PMP trigger: sustained average parking demand above 85% occupancy (p64)
- Wānaka proposed core paid parking $2/hr; Pembroke $1/hr or $6/day (p138, p140)
Files
- Open Main document (PDF, 8.3 MB) Opens in a new tab.
Main document
Public copies
Publisher’s own file.
Actions recorded
Review parking fees annually through the schedule of fees and charges in the Annual Plan/LTP, adjusting prices according to on-street demand.
Not assessed · QLDC · Annual
A review of parking fees will be undertaken annually
Investigate park and ride facilities further as part of the district's public transport improvement programmes (currently considered not viable).
Not assessed · QLDC
Further investigation of park and ride facilities will be undertaken as part of the district's public transport improvement programmes
Develop or review PMPs where sustained average parking demand exceeds 85% occupancy or transport and land-use changes affect parking.
Not assessed · QLDC · Trigger-based
Triggers to develop or review a PMP for an area include... average parking demand exceeds 85% occupancy
Implement integrated parking technology (access control, payment, real-time information and wayfinding, data, enforcement) to support permits and PMP actions.
Not assessed · QLDC
It is crucial to ensure that the implementation and procurement of these systems include an integrated delivery
Implement permit schemes by updating the Traffic and Parking Operations manual and Bylaw schedule, setting fees in the Annual Plan/LTP, and building online application portals.
Not assessed · QLDC
Implementation of most of these permit provisions relies on the implementation of parking technology
Advocate to central government and others on infringement penalties, rental vehicle fines and berm parking; work with ski hire shops, campgrounds and the Bus and Coach Association.
Not assessed · QLDC
Opportunities to advocate for changes to central government and other organisations
Monitor parking occupancy, enforcement, permit, private car park, census, travel survey, traffic count and PT occupancy data to guide changes.
Not assessed · QLDC
Parking occupancy rates are one of the main triggers used to influence changes
Consider Transport Management Associations to involve communities in decisions on reinvesting parking revenue, e.g. subsidising public transport.
Not assessed · QLDC
Establishment of Transport Management Associations (TMAs) can be used
Show all 22 actions
Frankton: introduce a residential parking zone permit scheme and investigate changing the 48-hour time restriction.
Not assessed · QLDC
Introduce a residential parking zone permit scheme for Frankton
Frankton: change Gray Street car park from 10 hours to P180, reduce Frankton Village restrictions to P60/P120 and install bike hoops.
Not assessed · QLDC · Shorter restrictions introduced in 2027
Change the parking restrictions in the Gray Street car park from 10HR to P180
Frankton: implement P180 on one side of Copper Beech Road and nearby streets; add mobility parking where gaps exist (e.g. Frankton Beach).
Not assessed · QLDC
Implement P180 restrictions on one side of Copper Beech Road
Queenstown: introduce paid parking 8am–9pm across historic core on- and off-street parking at $6.50/hr rising to $7.50 by 2027/28, with P90 on-street limits.
Not assessed · QLDC · 2025/26 to 2027/28
Paid parking to apply to both on-street and off-street car parks
Queenstown: apply inner precinct paid parking at $4/hr (8am–6pm) with P180, and coach parking at $8/hr and $20 overnight.
Not assessed · QLDC
Paid parking to apply to both on-street and off-street car parks, at a rate of $4/hour
Queenstown: apply outer precinct paid parking at $2.50–$4/hr with a six-hour cap, paid parking in Queenstown Gardens and One Mile, and P180 limits.
Not assessed · QLDC
Paid parking to apply at a rate of $2.50 - $4 /hour
Queenstown: implement P180 on one side of fringe precinct streets and introduce a residential parking permit scheme.
Not assessed · QLDC
Introduce a residential parking permit scheme for Queenstown
Queenstown: implement coach, campervan, SPSV, loading zone, P10, mobility, motorcycle and bicycle parking changes, including dedicated coach parking and CCTV monitoring of SPSV bays.
Not assessed · QLDC
Implement dedicated coach parking across Queenstown town centre
Queenstown: implement real-time occupancy capture and integrate it, including private car parks, with wayfinding signage and apps.
Not assessed · QLDC
Implement technology to capture real-time on-street and off-street parking occupancy
Queenstown: investigate limiting vehicle access to shared spaces and introduce a service vehicle pre-registration database.
Not assessed · QLDC
Investigate opportunities to limit vehicle access and enforce parking in Queenstown's shared spaces
Support EV charging providers to install chargers in Council off-street car parks (Queenstown and Wānaka).
Not assessed · QLDC
Support EV charging providers to implement additional EV chargers
Wānaka: introduce paid parking in core ($2/hr) and Pembroke ($1/hr or $6/day) precincts, coach and campervan charges, and Lakefront paid parking.
Not assessed · QLDC
Paid parking to apply to both on-street and off-street car parks, at a rate of $2/hour
Wānaka: stage fringe restrictions with a resident permit scheme, relocate coach drop-off to Dungarvon Street, and explore how parking revenue is reinvested.
Not assessed · QLDC · Stage 1 / Stage 2
Implement residential parking permit scheme for eligible permanent residents
Wānaka: use shuttle or temporary bus services, temporary paid parking and extra enforcement during major events.
Not assessed · QLDC
Use shuttle or temporary bus services to improve access
Study cost
A study cost has been requested under the Official Information Act or LGOIMA. No figure has been received.
Citation
QLDC. Comprehensive Parking Management Plan (QLDC Parking Bundle Working Version: Parking Strategy, Parking Guidelines, and Frankton, Queenstown and Wānaka Parking Management Plans) (2026).