Two more central Picton car parks make way for outdoor dining

KIRA CARRINGTON Local Democracy Reporter

Parking pressure in central Picton is in the spotlight after a popular restaurant secured two car parks to turn into an outdoor dining area.

The Marlborough District Council’s infrastructure and community facilities committee granted The Thirsty Pig permission to convert the parking spaces on High St into a semi-permanent outdoor dining area on Thursday.

However, with 11 central Picton car parks already being used by hospitality businesses, some councillors warned approving another request could set a precedent that made rejecting future applications harder.

The Thirsty Pig co-owner Louise Richan told Local Democracy Reporting that she and her husband had wanted a street-facing outdoor dining area for years.

The couple wanted to convert the restaurant’s rear courtyard into a new purpose-built “mini casino” with the 18 slot machines they previously had at the now-closed Texas Tea Bar & Grill.

Instead of having tables out the back, an east-facing dining space on High St would be a lovely, sunny spot in the mornings, Richan said.

The council would still have to approve a design for the street-front conversion, and the restaurant had to cover all consent, construction, and maintenance costs.

Leasing the 36m² space would cost the restaurant $1188 per year.

Richan said she was unsure how elaborate a design the council would allow, but she had been inspired by an enclosed gazebo-style dining area she had seen in a North Island town.

The couple were willing to invest significant funds into creating a welcoming space, she said.

Council project and contracts manager Loren Coffey told the committee on Thursday that the new area would be made up of a removable platform and barrier that could be removed and restored to car parks if needed.

Outdoor eating areas made central Picton more vibrant, encouraged foot traffic, and increased diner capacity during the busy summer season, Coffey said.

Neighbouring property owners had been consulted and were supportive, she said.

Blenheim ward councillor and Picton resident John Hyndman said he supported the proposal but had concerns about the shortage of parking in central Picton.

Blenheim ward councillor David Croad asked Hyndman if he objected to a business becoming more successful.

Hyndman said he did not, but he was concerned these were two car parks Picton could not afford to lose.

Croad said he shared those concerns, but there needed to be a shift in parking culture in which people embraced parking further away from their destination.

“People want to park in that strip all of the time, but there’s a real trade-off, isn't there, between people getting to the businesses and the businesses being vibrant.”

Marlborough Sounds ward councillor Raylene Innes said the council already allowed 11 car parks in central Picton to be used as outdoor dining areas, including at Indulge Ice Cream Parlour, The Barn Bar & Grill, Bakehouse Café, and Fork and Fable.

Innes said by 11.45am on Wednesday, September 23, a quieter part of the year, she observed only seven 60-minute car parks available on High St. By 1pm there were just five available, and by 2pm there were three.

“Where do we start and where do we stop?”

Marlborough Sounds ward councillor Barbara Faulls said she did not oppose the proposal but the council’s current method of giving car parks to hospitality businesses was “ad hoc” and needed rethinking.

Granting another request for outdoor space could set a precedent that would leave the council unable to decline future applications, Faulls said.

Peak tourism season would cause even more strain on parking, Faulls said.

She cited Tourism New Zealand's prediction that national visitor numbers would return to pre-Covid levels by the end of the year.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the proposal, which would need to be ratified by the full council on October 29.

Innes and Faulls could not vote as they were not members of the committee.

Richan told Local Democracy Reporting after the meeting that she understood the need for adequate parking, but there were areas where parking spaces could be added.

“We’re a café bar, and I think it’s a way for us to increase patronage, and awareness that we’re here, and we do good food.”