New car park rules instituted by KiwiRail at the Picton Ferry terminal on July 3 under the auspices of health and safety is causing a headache for truck drivers who previously used the facility at no charge, and must now pay for parking there.
The driver’s feel the move is unfair, and they want their employers to foot the bill according to Radio New Zealand.
It is reporting that KiwiRail had earlier allowed truck drivers to park in a designated area at the Picton Ferry terminal, but it has since stopped the practice citing concerns over health and safety.
KiwiRail told Radio New Zealand that more people parking in the area and more development work taking place at the site, as well as the new health and safety legislation, means the prior arrangement for the truck drivers is no longer acceptable.
One driver told Radio New Zealand he is now parking on a nearby residential street and walking the half kilometre distance to the terminal.
That driver says that he is not prepared to pay a $40 per week charge for parking a vehicle in the public car park at the ferry terminal until his employer agreed to reimburse the additional expense.
Road Transport Association Marlborough chairman Peter Heagney told Radio New Zealand the parking situation would lead to increased costs for transport companies and another tightening of their profit margins.
“Someone will be paying. It becomes more costly for everyone to do their business and if the port’s there for people to go and meet traffic, they should have facilities there for that,” says Heagney.
