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Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
‘Pros and cons' to time-limiting St Clair all-day parks
Surfing New Zealand South Island director Jimi Higgins says a Dunedin City Council proposal to turn all-day parking into time-restricted spots could hurt competitions but help recreational surfers keen for a parking spot near the water. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN Proposed parking changes at St Clair Beach present "pros and cons" for surfers, but nearby businesses could benefit from an end to people taking up a parking spot all day at the often bustling Dunedin destination. The Dunedin City Council has proposed a change to a range of parking restrictions in and around the Esplanade at St Clair. In general, all-day parking spaces in the area are earmarked to become either two-hour or four-hour time-restricted spaces along with several five-minute spots. Surfing New Zealand South Island director Jimi Higgins said the proposal "had its pros and cons", benefiting those who wanted to get into the water for an hour or so, or perhaps attend a surfing lesson. But surfing competitions could suffer because visitors relied on the all-day parking spots, often pulling up for a day or two while a competition was on. "I think for recreational surfing it might be quite good because it frees up a lot of parks," Mr Higgins said. "We've been noticing there's a lot of parking issues down there with people parking all day or having to park blocks away to go visit the beach. "But for our competitions it's going to negatively impact that because we have people coming from around Otago, around Dunedin and even around the country who like to get involved. "And they normally park there the whole day or maybe for a couple of days to compete and spectate and they won't be able to do that any more." St Clair played host to about five competitions a year, including the recent South Island Champs over Easter, which is the second biggest event in the country. "We had visitors from the Far North, Taranaki, all across the country coming down in their motorhomes, parking up at St Clair Beach, spending money at all the restaurants and the businesses. "And now they won't be able to do that." Restaurateur Katrina Toovey owns the busy Italian eatery Esplanade and the recently opened wine bar Piccolo and artisan gelato store Sorella Gelato next door. She said at present the parking in the area was "a bit hectic" and the number of cars moving through the beachfront area put people, often unaccompanied children, at risk. Yet, Ms Toovey welcomed an end to all-day parking. "I think it's good for visitors to the area," she said. "It means that the parks will turn as opposed to someone being there sometimes for days and days, to be honest." Council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the proposed changes aimed to increase parking turnover and availability, and to help better meet the needs of local businesses and the community. The proposal would not result in the removal or loss of any free parking spaces in the area and all parks would still remain free of charge. Parking in the council managed carpark overlooking the Esplanade and ocean would remain unrestricted. Feedback would be taken into consideration before any final decisions were made, she said.
NZ Herald
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Dunedin Welcomes New Wine Bar Piccolo From The Team Behind The Esplanade
Two great new openings bring a taste of Italy to St Clair. St Clair, already home to one of Dunedin's best-regarded restaurants, has just welcomed two new neighbours. Sorella Gelato and Piccolo have opened side-by-side on Forbury Rd, offering a casual yet considered approach to Italian food and drink. Piccolo is a wine and salumi bar with a concise, interesting list of local and Italian bottles, a sharp edit of cocktails, and snack-friendly dishes like pizzette, croquettes and zucchini flowers. Wine is available by the glass or bottle, and takeaway options (including pizza!) — like vermouth — are sold from the fridge near the door. Next door, Sorella is a traditional gelateria led by Marco Adinolfi — ranked among the world's top 100 gelato makers — who prepares a fresh line-up of flavours each day in the onsite lab. The menu spans both gelato and sorbetto, with a focus on seasonal, all-natural ingredients and a generous non-dairy selection. Take-home tubs and gelato cakes are also available. The two new venues are the latest from Katrina Toovey, who also runs neighbouring Italian restaurant The Esplanade, which is a favourite with both locals and visitors, and No 7 Balmac in Maori Hill. 'In Italian cuisine there is a real emphasis on quality and tradition, the art of doing things well. There is also a culture of meandering and strolling through a neighbourhood and really enjoying an environment. These are all things that I know are important to our area, and for us it's about building on this. 'For some locals that might look like dropping into Piccolo for a glass before dinner at The Esplanade, or maybe it's getting a gelato with your kids on an afternoon stroll, and getting yourself a nice bottle to take home afterwards. We're curating quality options to cater to everyone,' says Katrina. The new wine bar and gelateria have been designed by Cheshire Architects, who are also responsible for The Esplanade's excellent interiors. Piccolo is a refreshing break from pared-back hospitality fitouts, with a fun use of colour and lots of art lining the walls. Choose from a cosy leather banquet by the window or sit at a colourful high table on a funky mushroom-like leather stool. 'To me, St Clair feels spacious, bright and open — we wanted to reflect that in what we've built here,' says Katrina. 'It's about offering a few different ways to enjoy the area, whether that's a scoop of gelato after a walk or a glass of wine before dinner.'
