Road sense: Council to install parking sensors from next week

THE Surf Coast Shire council will install sensors from next week in car parking bays in four coastal towns to help traders maximise customer traffic by discouraging cars to overstay the time limit.
Originally considered by the council in October, the 399 sensors can detect when a car is present through magnetic sensors installed below each parking space.
They will be installed in five locations from Monday, June 22:

• 81 in Torquay’s Gilbert Street Precinct, in the asphalt section of Gilbert Street, Cliff Street carpark, Bristol Road between Cliff and Pearl Streets
• 101 in Torquay’s Bell Street, in all timed parking spaces in the commercial area
• 45 in Jan Juc Village, in all timed parking spaces in the shopping village
• 40 in the Anglesea Shopping Precinct, in all timed parking spaces adjacent to the footpath, fronting shops, and
• 132 in Lorne’s Mountjoy Parade, in all parking spaces between Otway and Bay Streets.

The council says the technology will not change the existing parking controls, including existing time limits, nor will it result in paid parking or affect how officers issue parking fines.
The technology replaces the need for parking officers to “chalk” tyres to determine when vehicles overstay parking limits. Officers will have an app on their phones that will highlight the breach and enable them to go to the space and move the driver on, issue a warning or an infringement notice.
“The aim of the technology is to improve parking availability, which has become problematic, especially at peak times,” Cr Brian McKiterick said.
The technology will be used for data collection only over the coming quieter winter months. Advice signs will be placed with existing parking signs before to the technology being used for enforcement purposes.
Last year, traders expressed their concern to the Surf Coast Shire council about motorists overstaying in time restricted parking spaces and a survey of 51 traders in Torquay, Jan Juc, Anglesea and Lorne identified 78 per cent supported the introduction of sensor technology.
“Sensor-based technology to deliver efficient enforcement of time restricted parking spaces is readily available, commonly used and reliable,” Cr McKiterick said.
“The technology will support
Local Laws Officers to manage time-limited parking more efficiently and improve turnover of car parks in busy areas.”