Skip bin on a Temple St berm in Meadowbank. Photo / File
Skip bin on a Temple St berm in Meadowbank. Photo / File
First people were asked to mow their berms, now Auckland Council is seeking a law change to ban parking on them - a move that could impact urban areas across the country.
But a motorists' watchdog has hit back, saying the city should sort out parking shortages rather than punishingcar owners.
Auckland Transport (AT) is campaigning for a law change allowing it to fine people for parking on grass roadside berms that don't have "no parking" signs.
AT's Traffic Bylaw prohibits parking on grass berms. But the Land Transport Act rules mean "no parking" signs must be installed every 100m to enforce the ban.
On Sunday Waitematā Local Board chairwoman Pippa Coom, on behalf of the council, will seek support from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) at its Wellington conference to lobby central government for a law change.
Coom said parking on berms could damage underground utilities, create safety issues for footpath users and rip up the grass, preventing berms acting in their primary capacities to soak up and filter stormwater.
"If parking is an issue, then that needs to be addressed. Parking on berms should not be a solution.
"And having to install signs at 100m intervals on a street to enforce the rules is just farcical.
Waitematā Local Board chairwoman Pippa Coom will present Auckland Council's remit to the Local Government New Zealand Conference in Wellington this Sunday. Photo / File
"Drivers in Auckland are becoming aware that AT do not issue infringement notices for parking on the grass verge unless signage has been installed.
"As more drivers become aware, the problems increase in areas without signage and AT is unable to take action."
But the Automobile Association opposes any blanket ban.
Spokesman Mark Stockdale said sweeping prohibitions would create problems for Kiwi car owners.
"At the moment parking on berms is very accepted in some areas. Most people across the country have to maintain and mow their berms, so there is an expectation you can park on them if needed, such as when you have extra guests for birthday parties, family gatherings or sports events."
A warning sign near the Albany Park and Ride advising motorists will be charged $40 for parking on the grass berm. Photo / File
In urban areas with few carparks some people were simply trying to be courteous and not block narrow streets, he said.
"Shortage of parking needs to be addressed before banning parking on berms."
Stockdale agreed the number of cars on berms could get "out of control", and there could be damage to underground utilities in some areas.
"But in those pressure points there should be signs installed, rather than a blanket ban."
Auckland berm issues are not new. A controversial plan change in 2013/14 sparked outrage when residents were forced to mow their own berms.
However, the council will mow people's berms if they are unable to do so themselves and meet certain criteria.
Mayor Phil Goff said council investment in public transport would reduce the need for people to use their cars.
"We don't want a city with hundreds of signs saying 'do not park here'. We want the ability to say it is illegal to park on berms, in areas where it is obstructing pedestrians and residents living there, digging up the grass and creating mess - we don't want that."
Mayor Phil Goff says parking issues in areas would decrease as Auckland Council's public transport investments paid off. Photo / File
AT spokesman Mark Hannan said installing no parking signs across the city was both costly and time consuming.
Just 36 streets across the city currently have signs - representing just 0.004 of the city's 9000 streets.
AT could issue $40 fines for berm parking in those places.
Meadowbank resident Murray Hutchinson previously told the Herald he was frustrated to be told by AT that it did not have the power to tell tradies who repeatedly parked on the berm outside his Temple St home to move.
Meadowbank resident Murray Hutchison was upset cars and skip bins were regularly parked on berms in Temple St in Meadowbank. Photo / File
Hutchinson said his neighbour was renovating his home last year and contractors left the berm "munted".
AT erects signs only after prioritising grass berm complaints.
The criteria includes risk of damage to "critical" utility services such as underground power, water and fibre cables. Street visibility in high-risk areas near schools or parks is also a consideration for the signs.
Ministry of Transport mobility and safety manager Brent Johnston said a number of councils had raised transport bylaw issuesaround councils being able to fine motorists parked on berms.
Skip bin on a Temple St berm in Meadowbank. Photo / File
Under a new bylaw in 2017, Christchurch City Council declared it an offence to park on a grass or paved berm where there is a kerb.
LIST OF AUCKLAND STREETS YOU CAN BE FINED PARKING ON BERMS:
Litten Rd/Paparoa Rd, Cockle Bay Beaumont St, Auckland Central Hamer St/Brigham St, Auckland Central Corner of Sale St and Cook St, Auckland Central Union St, Sam Wrigley St, Auckland Central East St & Young Cres, Drury 257 Main Highway, Ellerslie 2 Hudson St, Ellerslie 15 Margot St, Epsom 279 Botany Rd, Golflands Auckland Domain, Grafton 33 Scanlan St, Grey Lynn Ara-Tai Rd, Half Moon Bay 5 Paramount Drive, Henderson 261 Lincoln Rd, Henderson 1 Ethel St, Mcdonald St, Altham Ave, Kingsland Barrowcliffe Pl, Manukau 32 Altham Ave, Mount Eden 397 Ellerslie-Panmure Highway, Mount Wellington 103 Panama Rd, Mount Wellington 96 Ireland Rd, Mt Wellington 3 Rankin Ave, New Lynn 9 Sarawia St, Newmarket 71 Maurice Rd, Penrose 237 Sunset Rd, Sunnynook 247 and 249 Sunset Rd, Sunnynook 1 The Terrace, Takapuna 15 Brett Ave, Takapuna The Landing, Takapuna 2 Waipani Rd/Gwendoline Ave, Te Atatu Peninsula 3 Katote Close, south near Botanic Gardens, The Gardens Clive Rd (outside Scout Hall), Mt Eden Te Atatu Rd (outside Harbourview Reserve), Te Atatu Peninsula Albany town centre parking zone, Albany Kupe St, Orakei Oxford Tce, Devonport
