Our View: Cheaper parking will bring prosperity

Radical changes to carparking in the city have been proposed in a bid to attract more shoppers to the downtown.
Recognising the struggles faced by many retailers in the CBD, Tauranga City Council has come up with three key ideas to help level the playing field between the downtown and its free-parking competitors elsewhere in the city.
While nothing is set in stone, the proposal includes cheaper parking on many downtown streets, longer parking periods on some streets and free weekend parking in council carpark buildings.
An overhaul of the city's parking systems is long overdue. While trials and temporary initiatives - such as free Saturdays in the city's parking buildings last year - are to be commended, a long-term solution to the city's parking woes is needed.
In these bleak economic times, everything must be done to ensure we have a vibrant and inviting central shopping centre.
But the responsibility of attracting shoppers to the downtown does not rest solely on the council.
If shoppers know the shops they want to visit are open at convenient times, that they will receive the best possible customer service and are able to find the products they desire, a few dollars spent parking will not deter them from shopping in the CBD.
Last year, one retailer took it upon himself to entice customers to his central city shop.
Lawrence Stewart, from Don Stewart Jewellers in Devonport Rd, gave $2 to customers who spent $10 with him to reimburse their parking fees.
He believed it was hard for customers to enjoy shopping while worrying how much time they had left before they could get a ticket.
Initiatives such as this should be encouraged. Incentives like free coffee with every purchase will not only entice shoppers to the CBD but encourage them to stay longer.
Business owners need to join forces with the council - and each other - and become proactive.
Tauranga has so much to offer - great beaches and climate, tourist attractions and prime real estate.
Becoming the ultimate shopping destination in the region would complete the package.
The council's financial controller questions whether the objective is to maximise occupancy of carparks or to maximise revenue.
The proposal would see a drop in revenue of $51,000 by offering free parking in the council's two parking buildings and the money made from on-street parking would fall by $103,000.
While there is no doubt this council needs to do everything it can to increase revenue, what good would this money be if more retailers have shut up shop?