University of Canterbury announces huge increase in campus parking charges

University of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor Rod Carr. Photo / File

The University of Canterbury is set to hike its on-campus parking charges every year for the next three years.

Students who park at the university will be out of pocket by an extra $171 by 2019, while staff face a whopping $545 increase in their yearly parking bill.

The increase, announced today by the university council, was needed to meet costs for parking provision and maintenance, without dipping into the tuition fees pot, vice-chancellor Dr Rod Carr said.

Full year on-campus parking charges will increase from $304 for students and $455 for staff, to $350 and $600 respectively in 2017.

In 2018 charges will increase to $400 and $800 respectively, and $475 and $1000 in 2019.

"These charges reflect a move to recover the costs of developing and maintaining carparks on campus in line with staff and student demand and City Council requirements," Carr said.

"The University is not yet covering those costs and should not subsidise car parking.

"The fairest option is to ask those who use it to meet those costs."

The 2017 staff charge for a full-year parking permit works out at about $2.66 per working day, $3.56 in 2018 and $4.44 in 2019, Carr said.

Quarterly and monthly payment options would be available.

Casual parking rates would not change in 2017, but may increase in 2018 and 2019, Carr said.

The University of Canterbury has 3742 on campus car parks for staff, students and visitors, including 610 temporary car parks for contractors and 63 mobility parks.

An additional 1057 parking spaces will be needed by 2023.

The university encouraged alternative transport options, Carr said, adding that the price hike could be a "good thing" if it prompts more people to cycle, or take public transport

"Lower prices would simply encourage more people to drive - at a time when more students than ever are already driving."