The tender for Smarter Parking infrastructure provision will be voted on at the Wednesday 11 September Ballarat City Council meeting.
The tender is for the provision of a completely integrated network of 146 car parking meters (instead of the current 200), the introduction of a mobile phone app, number plate recognition technology to be installed in the existing fleet and a wholly integrated software system.
The benefits of this system includes transparent infringement management, a range of parking payment options and data monitoring and management.
The traditional methods of payment, coin and credit card remain with the added flexibility of pay via smart phone app being another option.
A tender was advertised via Tenderlink to ensure all potential service providers were given an opportunity to apply.
The decision will be made in Section 89, where contractual matters must be decided without the public present for commercial-in-confidence reasons, but the outcome will be made public shortly afterwards.
Ballarat City Council resolved at its February 20 meeting to adopt the Smarter Parking Plan, including a paid parking network extension, an extended time restricted network and a revised enforcement regime with enhanced technology.
Once the infrastructure and technology is implemented, the parking fee regime for on street paid areas in area one, which is the CBD, will be the first hour free (per vehicle, per day) and $3 per hour thereafter.
In 2018, one of the largest community engagement processes in the City of Ballarat's history was undertaken over the city's car parking future.
Overwhelmingly, the public was supportive of an improved metered network that provided more payment choices, consistency in meters, and more efficient and greater use of enforcement tools for ensuring turn over in high demand areas.
