Hobart City Council’s new parking sensors to reap rewards in a year

HOBART City Council is rolling out its new parking sensors. Guess how long it will take for them to pay off the new $3.9 million system.

One of Hobart City Council's new parking sensors installed in parking spaces on Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point.

EACH of Hobart’s new parking sensors only has to dish out about one ticket a week for a year until for the Hobart City Council to recoup costs from its new integrated parking system.

The council has started installing 1800 in-ground parking sensors, as part of its $3.9 million parking revamp.

MORE: SENSOR PARKING IN MAJOR CARPARKS

The in-ground sensors will be rolled out in Elizabeth, Liverpool, Davey, Harrington, Collins and Bathurst streets.

The sensors will begin operating early next year and detect when vehicles arrive in paid parking zones and will notify parking inspectors when time limits are exceeded.

People will pay for parking through a mobile app that counts down time and sets reminders.

One of the new in-ground parking sensors in Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

The sensors are part of an integrated parking system, which includes replacing on-street parking meters and voucher machines with 310 multi-payment option parking meters at Salamanca Place, Dunn Place, Condell Place and Leroy St carparks from the New Year.

The sensors will cost $980,000, while the meters will be just over $2.6 million. Software and installation will cost $275,000.

MORE: IN-GROUND DETECTORS FOR PARKING FINES

That means that if each of the 1800 sensors dished out a standard $39 parking ticket, then each device would need to issue just 55 tickets for the council to regain the $3.9 million.

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said the council’s parking management approach was to ensure there was sufficient turnover of parking spaces, particularly in high-demand areas. She said replacement of meters was due to occur.

“Parking and information officers will have devices that are linked to a central system that can advise if a vehicle has overstayed,” she said.

“It’s important to be clear that our officers will continue to walk a prescribed round and only deal with overstays when they reach that particular vehicle. They will not double back to issue a ticket.”

However, Ald Hickey said it wasn’t known if parking fine costs would increase.

“Certainly, we are providing the public with technology so they can better manage their parking needs in order to avoid receiving an infringement for overstaying.”

The new carpark meters will also be able to receive payment by coins as well as debit and credit cards or through the phone app.

A public education campaign on the new systems will start in the New Year.