9 October 2024
File Ref: IRC-7085
Mike
[FYI request #28365 email]
Tēnā koe Mike,
Thank you for your email dated 12 September 2024 to Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wel ington City
Council (the Council) requesting the following information relating to Parking Services’ Licence Plate
Recognition (LPR) vehicles:
Under the Official Information Act could you please confirm the existence of two WCC purchased
vehicles, which have been adapted to photograph parked vehicles around the streets of Wellington,
specifically to identify vehicles that have overstayed their parking time.
Please advise:
1. The cost of each vehicle and the total cost to install the technology needed to catch out
parkers.
2. What type of fuels are these vehicles running on and what is the total fuel cost to the council
per annum.
3. What is the total cost of staff wages to employ the drivers needed for this function.
4. Why is the council adding more vehicles to the roads when they are actively discouraging
Wellington locals out of their vehicles.
5. What is the total revenue collected by the council specifically from these vehicles.
6. I understand these vehicles drive around the city on specified routes. Please supply a map
outlining the areas these vehicles operate in.
7.
Does the council believe their ratepayers would approve, or agree to, the purchase of these
vehicles when they have been designed to fine drivers in the city.
Your request has been considered under the Local Government Of icial Information and Meetings Act
1987 (LGOIMA). Please find my response below.
Background Information
As reported on the Council’s
website, we are introducing four new cars to our Parking Services fleet,
with the latest Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) technology, which is a more efficient way of
monitoring parking in the city and suburbs.
The Council’s
Parking Policy is designed to manage parking pressures over the next 10-20 years as
the city grows. As on-street parking becomes more constrained, the Council needs to ensure that
parking turns over where appropriate and that parking for specific purposes is used for that intended
purpose. Operating these vehicles wil allow us to enforce those objectives more consistently with
greater efficiency.
The LPR vehicles are clearly identified as Wellington City Council Parking Services vehicles and will
operate within the requirements of the Privacy Act.
Question 1 -
The cost of each vehicle and the total cost to install the technology needed to catch out
parkers.
The cost of each of vehicle was $49,255.33 including GST.
With respect to the costs surrounding the LPR technology, including its installation, this part of your
request has been refused under section 7(2)(b)(i ) of the Act as this information is commercially
sensitive.
However, I can confirm the LPR technology was approved and budgeted for in the Council’s 2021
Long-Term Plan.
Question 2 -
What type of fuels are these vehicles running on and what is the total fuel cost to the
council per annum.
The cars are Mitsubishi Eclipse hybrid cars. The use of hybrid vehicles supports the Council’s climate
action plan, Te Atakura – First to Zero, and the goal to reduce the city’s gross emissions by 57% by
2030 and become net zero by 2050.
More information regarding Te Atakura can be foun
d here.
Please find below a breakdown of the fuel costs for these hybrid vehicles:
Financial year 2023/24 - $7,931.00
Financial year 2024/25 (so far) - $350.00
Please note, the above costs relate to petrol fuel, I am unable to confirm the costs when the hybrid
vehicles are being charged via an electrical outlet as these costs are not broken down to that level of
specificity. Therefore this part of your request has been refused under section 17(g) of the LGOIMA as
the information requested is not held.
Question 3 -
What is the total cost of staff wages to employ the drivers needed for this function.
With respect to the salaries and person hours of staff involved in driving the new Parking Services
fleet vehicle with LPR technology, the Council does not hold this information as staff are salaried and
we do not record the number of hours spent on the varying areas of their roles. As such, this part of
your request is refused under section 17(g) of the LGOIMA as the information requested is not held.
Question 4 -
Why is the council adding more vehicles to the roads when they are actively
discouraging Wellington locals out of their vehicles.
As touched on under ‘background information’ the LPR vehicles wil enable our parking officers to be
in more places, more often, and wil improve efficiency and consistency so that the public gets fairer
access to the car parks available.
The use of the hybrid vehicles also provides parking officers with a safer work environment when
undertaking enforcement, as our parking officers can be subject to verbal or physical abuse during
foot patrols.
Question 5 -
What is the total revenue collected by the council specifically from these vehicles.
As confirmed on our
website, the hybrid vehicles are currently being used for training and to survey
parking usage which wil gather parking data to help us plan for the city’s parking needs.
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Enforcement using these vehicles has not yet started and therefore no infringements have been
issued utilising vehicle based LPR technology. This part of your request has been refused under
section 17(e) of the Act because the requested information does not exist.
Question 6 -
I understand these vehicles drive around the city on specified routes. Please supply a
map outlining the areas these vehicles operate in.
As enforcement using the vehicles has not yet started, no predetermined route for these hybrid
vehicles has been created, however over time they wil be used to manage time restricted and permit
related parking areas across the city. This part of your request has been refused under section 17(e)
of the Act because the requested information does not exist.
Question 7 -
Does the council believe their ratepayers would approve, or agree to, the purchase of
these vehicles when they have been designed to fine drivers in the city.
Last year, the Council received an average of 1100 complaints a month from the public of il egal
parking, for offences such as parking in residents’ areas without a permit and/or overstaying. LPR
vehicles wil enable our parking officers to respond to complaints more quickly across the city, without
an increase in staff numbers. To avoid getting a ticket, we recommend people always check the signs
where they’re parking and follow the rules for that location.
You have the right, by way of complaint under section 28(1) of the LGOIMA, to request an
investigation and review of the Council’s decision to withhold information by the Ombudsman.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
If you require further information, please contact
of [email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Ollie Marchant
Senior Advisor
Of icial Information & Privacy
Wellington City Council
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