Mayor bows to outcry from upset islanders

Penny Webster. Photo / Supplied

Webster orders scrapping of new parking fees at Sandspit after protests from Kawau residents

New parking fees at the gateway to Kawau Island introduced on July 1 have been scrapped on the order of Rodney Mayor Penny Webster after a residents' protest.

Daily rates for a car at the public parking lot reduce from $20 to $10 for visitors and $7 for the island's 100 residents.

Parking for a car and boat trailer has gone back to $13 a day from $25.

Mrs Webster said the new fees could be justified.

"But they should not be at the expense of local business, particularly the island's accommodation sector, and that's what appears to have happened.

"I have asked Rodney District Council chief executive Rodger Kerr-Newell to remove them immediately."

The carpark, which is beside the ferry wharf 8km from the island, is a rarity because it has a supervisor living on site. The new fees were to cover the cost of improvements.

Kawau Lodge owner Dave Jeffery said all the island's residents protested.

"There should be no charge. We don't know anywhere else where they charge for a carpark in a country area like this.

"Sandspit is a captive market - you can't park anywhere else because double yellow lines are painted on the road.

"We are sure the extra cost would have deterred people from coming to the island.

"They would have gone to Waiwera or Matakana."

The island has about 20,000 visitors a year - to Mansion House, and to stay at school camps, lodges and holiday homes.

Councillor Dave Parker said the new fees made it costly for bach owners on school holidays and long weekends.

He said the district's accommodation trade was well down because of the recession, although day visitor numbers had slightly increased.

Last year, protests by owners of the island's 450 properties forced the council to back down on a "transport rate" proposal which would have increased rates by up to 200 per cent.