Wellington City Council plans to crack down on parking in the suburb next to the city's airport.
Cars line a suburban street in Miramar. Photo: RNZ / Michael Cropp
The problem in Miramar came to a head in recent months, with locals frustrated at airport users leaving vehicles on suburban streets rather than paying for parking at the airport.
Earlier this week, a local man pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful damage related to tyre slashings in the area, and blamed the council's failure to act on parking problems.
Police believe at least 300 vehicles were damaged.
The council is proposing to introduce a 24-hour time-restriction in areas of Miramar South to prevent people from parking there for long periods of time.
City councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman said the council's priority is to resolve the issue.
"We know it's led to a criminal act. We need to act as quickly as possible now to try and further take the heat out of the situation by proposing something we can implement reasonably quickly and simply."
But the Miramar Maupuia Residents' Association chairwoman, Robin Boldarin, said the proposal is rushed and it will not work.
"I don't know why they can't see the obvious, and the obvious solution is to have residential parking for the residents plus their visitors. It's logical."
She said the proposal is rushed, and thinks 24/7 monitoring would be expensive in the long run for the council.
If the proposal goes ahead, vehicles parked in one spot in the area for more than one day could be towed and ticketed.
The councillor said the proposal has to go through the Wellington city strategy committee before changes would be made.
"The earliest we could have it in place is approximately June."
Local residents have until 24 February to submit their feedback to the council.
The proposed 24-hour parking area. Photo: Wellington City Council
Illegal barriers to go
Wellington City Council also intends to remove all 'home-made' barriers that homeowners have erected so that people can't park on their land.
The council came under scrutiny in 2015 after a 65 year old man died when he crashed off his bike into a low wire fence that a resident had built on their grass verge.
The Coroner recommended that the council help residents with effective and safe barriers.
Councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman said the council will be replacing the 'home-made' barriers with something safer.
