New hi-tech parking patrol vehicle hits Fraser Coast streets

Using GPS and high definition cameras, the patrol car has been roaming Fraser Coast streets in recent months.

SafePark vehicle patrols were first trialled in Hervey Bay in November 2024.

A new SafePark patrol vehicle is helping the Fraser Coast council crackdown on illegal parking, six months after it was officially rolled out in the region.

Eagle-eyed onlookers saw the vehicle patrolling the Hervey Bay Esplanade on Saturday, doing repeated loops of the popular stretch.

It comes after angry parents spoke out earlier this year after copping fines while trying to pick up their kids in Kent St, Maryborough.

The crackdown from the council happened in the weeks before the end of the first school term, with parents who had been parking in the same areas outside Maryborough Central State School receiving fines worth hundreds of dollars.

This week, the council shared an update on its new means of detecting illegal parkers.

“SafePark vehicle patrols were first trialled in Hervey Bay in November 2024 and officially rolled out in January 2025,” a spokeswoman from the council said.

Residents are being urged to pay attention to parking times.

“The patrol vehicle is driven by a parking officer and equipped with roof-mounted high-definition cameras, GPS, and a video processing server.

“As the vehicle passes by, it scans and time-stamps licence plates, recording any potential parking breaches.

“This data is compared against mapped zone rules.

“If a possible infringement is detected, it’s flagged for further review.

“A parking officer then verifies the information before a penalty infringement notice is issued.

“The SafePark vehicle patrols streets with timed or signed parking, focusing on areas with high demand or known noncompliance.

“This technology has been in place with councils such as Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Logan and Brisbane for many years.”

The council was asked to disclose how much money had been raised from parking fines in the past financial year compared to the 12 months before that.

“Fraser Coast Regional Council does not publicly report parking fine revenue as a separate line item in its financial statements,” a spokesman said.

“Infringement revenue, including parking fines, is included within the broader ‘other fees and charges’ category in council’s Annual Report, alongside items such as venue hire, impounding fees and library charges.

“The total value of this broader category for the 2023/24 financial year was approximately $2m.

“Figures for the 2024/25 financial year will be compiled and included in the upcoming Annual Report, which is expected to be released later this year.”

In addition to the Safepark vehicle, the council has been trialling Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology at three schools and in high-use residential areas to improve safety for both schoolchildren and residents.

When it was announced, councillor Paul Truscott said the trial involved fixed cameras at schools and mobile cameras in residential areas to improve monitoring and make school drop-off and pick-up safer.

“Schools are busy areas, especially during peak times where there are often lots of children who may not fully grasp road dangers,” he said.

Parking inspectors have been given all-new technology.

“Council’s Parking Compliance team consistently receives complaints about illegal parking during school terms, creating safety risks for both children and drivers. Unlike other areas managed by the State Government, school car parks fall under council’s regulation.

“Since June 2024, council has received 306 general parking complaints, which is around 77 per month.

“Council rangers patrolling school zones frequently face confrontations with aggressive parents over parking violations. This technology will enhance their safety and boost efficiency in managing these areas.”

“The School Safe Parking Program aims to ease traffic congestion, reduce accidents, and encourage responsible parking around schools.

“The trial will focus on high-complaint areas to detect and record illegal parking, using AI-powered technology.”

The trial began at St Helens State School in Maryborough at the start of the year, with Hervey Bay State High and Kawungan State School participating in the following phase.