Finding carparks in Monash gets easier, cheaper with new phone app

A COUPLE of young Monash entrepreneurs could have the answer to a growing problem across Melbourne — short-term carparking.

A COUPLE of young Monash entrepreneurs could have the answer to a growing problem across Melbourne — short-term carparking.

And it comes at a time when major shopping and trading areas in Monash are at bursting point.

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Sick of paying fees and struggling to find carpark spaces while attending Monash University’s Clayton campus, Xavier Morgan and Charlotte McKenzie started talking to other students to find out if it was a widespread problem.

The 20-year-olds then developed an app which could revolutionise the way people approach day-to-day activities which range from attending university, going shopping, parking near train stations or visiting a hospital.

“We got some pretty good feedback and built our product off that,” Mr Morgan said.

“Our goal is to provide cheaper, more convenient parking to drivers, while allowing residents to earn an extra income from their unused or underused parking spaces.”

Neepa is an app that allows for a relationship between a person looking for parking and a park, business or land owner who has a driveway, front or back lawn or any area that is their property in which there is space to park.

Neepa has a live parking aspect.

Its main selling point is the live parking aspect, allowing users to see what parks are available.

Since launching three months ago, more than 100 parking spaces have been signed up at Clayton and in Burwood, near Deakin University.

Prices are set at cheaper than the nearby university parking, but still high enough to make it worthwhile to the owner of the park.

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CLAYTON NEEDS MORE PARKING

The biggest challenge they have faced is “trying to change people’s thinking”.

“We have to build our product … so people know our brand and build trust.” Mr Morgan, who lives in Wheelers Hill, said.

“The issue is based on trust — we are new in the market and we are young.”

The app gives people an idea of what parking is available.

While the pair have not officially expanded the app beyond universities yet, hospitals, shopping centres and other places are in their sights.

It is free to download from the iOS and Android stores.

“The ultimate goal is to be a short-term parking solution … instead of risking driving around 10 or 15 minutes looking for a park or risking a fine.”

For information, visit their website.

HOW IT WORKS

— Park owner downloads the app and lists their parking space, uploading a few photos and sets their availability calendar

— User reserves a park at the tap of a button

— User drives to the spot using the app, parks and pays through the app

— App transfers the money to park owners directly at the end of the week