Plans showing the new Mackay Street car park and proposed changes to surrounding car park time limits have been released by the Thames Community Board this week.

The conversion of the old bowling green opposite the Thames-Coromandel District Council building into a public car park catering for 60 additional parks will begin this month.

The Thames Community Board has released its Mackay St parking plan this week. Image: TCDC

The new car park area is owned by the Thames board which will submit a bylaw amendment for council to consider at its December meeting.

Board chair Strat Peters says parking in this part of Thames is sorely needed.

'With our Thames Council offices, AA service, the library and the hospital all in close proximity and currently a limited amount of off-road parking available."

At its meeting this week, the Thames board discussed the possibility of also reserving 24 of its new car park spaces for town centre businesses to lease exclusively for $20 per week.

Staff have ben tasked with investigating options in discussion with business owners in the Thames town centre. The rest of the new parking area will be free.

Other proposed changes include changing the parking area behind the library from unrestricted to 120 minutes, with motorists who require all-day parking being able to park in the free area of the new car park next to the bowling green.

The board has also proposed the creation of additional 20 minute zones along the front of council to allow people more opportunities to park during the day.

'Although some current parks along the front of the new car park will be lost when the new entrance is built,” adds Stret, 'there will be a dramatic gain in total car parks available by the time people return to work in the new year.

'We're hoping to have the new car park ready by Christmas if weather and other conditions remain favourable.”