More downtown parking spaces
A downtown carpark on the former Queenstown Performing Arts Centre site will close for the next two-and-a-half months, reopening before Christmas with almost double the number of spaces.
The carpark, off Stanley Street / Ballarat St, will be closed from Thursday, 2 October, to Friday, 19 December, while upgrades are carried out.
The improvements will result in 131 parking spaces at the site, about 56 more than currently there, three accessible spaces, potential for 13 EV charging spaces, and 21 bike parks too.
"Given these are highly valued parking spaces that provide locals and visitors with a great way to access the town centre and businesses in the area, the additional capacity provided will be a great benefit ahead of what’s sure to be a very busy festive and holiday season,” Tony Avery, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) General Manager Property & Infrastructure, says.
Upgrades at the site include laying down a new surface, making improvements to vehicle circulation, and stormwater and dust issues in the area, and installing new lighting too.
Work here follows a resolution council made in 2024 regarding options to provide the maximum number of public carparks at the Stanley Street site for the medium term, which included opening a temporary carpark in late 2024, and the intention to resurface the site with bitumen this year.
Avery acknowledged the temporary closure to the carpark would cause some inconvenience to regular users and visitors to Queenstown over the next two months, but noted that a range of other options remained available in and near the town centre.
“We’ve recently reopened the Ballarat Street Carpark which offers 102 parking spaces, and we have plenty more available in our Boundary Street, Lakeview, Memorial Street, and Athol Street carparks too,” he says.
“And if trying to find a parking space isn’t your idea of fun, I’d certainly encourage trying an alternative way of heading into and out of town – whether that’s jumping on the bus, carpooling with a friend or colleague, or taking advantage of these warmer mornings to walk or ride in.”
As a reminder, parking in all Council-managed spaces in Queenstown is free in the evening after 6pm through until 8am the next morning.
More information on parking options in Queenstown are available online at www.qldc.govt.nz/parking.
