Central Coast: Smart parking program launched to help commuters find a carpark
Finding a commuter carpark is now a lot easier thanks to a smart parking program launched in West Gosford.
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Finding a carpark just got a lot easier thanks to a new parking technology being rolled out by Central Coast Council.
The council is piloting smart parking technology at its Racecourse Rd carpark in West Gosford to help commuters find carparks faster.
Four cameras are up and running at the carpark, which identify if a space is available. This data is then fed in real time to the State Government’s Park’nPay app so drivers can identify how many free car spaces are available at any given time.
Many locals already have the free app which is linked to the carparks with in-ground sensors in Gosford and Terrigal.
The new technology introduced at West Gosford is cheaper compared with the underground sensors and can also collect valuable date such as pedestrian and traffic movement to help with future upgrades and development across the region.
Mayor Lisa Matthews said the new program was part of the council’s carparking strategy.
“We are starting to provide good quality parking opportunities for people on the Central Coast and trying to fix up the issues with parking,” she said.
“Parking is at a premium so if someone can find a carpark first up it makes life easier. We also need to get people parking out of the city.”
The Racecourse Rd carpark, with 200 carparks, has been open since late last year and provides a shuttle bus which takes commuters to the CBD.
Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch said council was leading the way with initiatives such as the pilot program.
“This digital technology trial will give local drivers a bird’s-eye view of parking, taking the hassle out of finding a spot,” Mr Crouch said.
“All people have to do is look up the app and see if there’s a free park. People using the app in Terrigal say there’s a massive improvement in traffic flow.”
The program is a collaboration between council, Ausgrid, PlusES and the State Government.
Council will also look at placing the smart parking technology at other locations across the region.