LET’S PARK SMARTER

Phone app push for city motorists as council trials sensors

A TRIAL of sensors installed in city-centre carparks is about to be launched as Cairns Regional Council looks to use technology to take the frustration out of CBD driving.

The test will compare types of parking detectors in Sheridan St in the coming weeks with the goal of linking a smartphone app to the sensors.

The trial comes amid calls from Cr Richie Bates for the council to investigate PayStay, an app launched in Darwin that lets motorists automatically start paying once they enter a space, and stop when they return to their car – all through their mobile phone.

Darwin City Council’s introduction of the program has been initially well received among residents happy to do away with cash and tickets.

“If Darwin can do it, we can do it,” Cr Bates said.

“It’s hooked up to an app that can give motorists all the info they need about how long they’ve got before they need to move their car.

“The data we can collect is also incredibly useful for our planning, and can let us know all sorts of things about traffic and parking movement.”

Cr Bates said the old coinoperated ticket machines would still be necessary for drivers less inclined to pay using a smartphone.

“But we should seriously consider anything that improves parking efficiency and has the potential to bring down the cost,” he said.

PayStay business unit manager Shane Treacy said the system was already operating in Mackay, Gold Coast and Griffith University’s campuses in southern Queensland, as well as areas of Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

“If people have that app when they travel, they can also use it at their next destination with their hire car or if they’re driving their own vehicle,” he said. “We would welcome an opportunity to work with (Cairns Regional Council) to try and achieve what we’ve achieved in Darwin.”

The system operates independent of parking sensors, and incorporates various payment options including setting a maximum parking limit or simply paying as you go.

The goal of the council’s sensor trial is to launch an app directing drivers to areas nearest their destination with best chance of securing a free park.

Parking inspectors would also benefit, with automated alerts providing them pinpointed locations for drivers overstay their welcome.

“We need to make sure that the revenue we take out of parking in the CBD gets reinvested into parking in the CBD,” Cr Bates said.

Mayor Bob Manning said the future was in smartphones and he was interested to see how Darwin’s trial panned out.

“Maybe we can learn something from them,” he said.