Council candidate offers free city parking (conditions apply)

A Hamilton West candidate who wants free parking in the city has given drivers the chance to experience what it is like by placing $1 coins on parking meters.

Nick Ravlich, 29, plans to  place 100 stickers with gold coins attached to them in random locations throughout the city.

Ravlich received plenty of support on Facebook for saying he wants to make parking free in the city all weekend and after 3pm on weekdays.

“The current council are trying to create a “culture” in the CBD, but in my view if we haven’t got people, we’ve got nothing – free parking is a good draw card to start dragging people back into our currently dead CBD,” Ravlich said.

Kathleen Brown showed her support on Facebook by saying: “Great stuff, finally someone to put good things into Hamilton.”

But some disagreed, including Mike Rutledge who said Ravlich is facing an uphill battle with The Base and Chartwell offering a shopping mall environment the city does not have.

The meter rate for on-street parking is currently $2 an hour Monday to Saturday between 8am and 6pm, and free on Sunday, with a two-hour limit each day.

Ravlich said he has requested parking revenue information from council to calculate how much income would be lost by making parking free.

“I think the benefits will far outweigh the slight loss of revenue. I would imagine that it barely covers the wages of the people checking the meters.”

Ravlich said there may need to be a time limit for parking on weekends to prevent people who work in town taking advantage of the free parking.

The qualified diesel mechanic also promises to act as a voice for the working class and younger generation, and provide a cleaner, safer city.