By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council has launched an app to help drivers find a parking spot within Werribee’s city centre.
Underground vehicle detection sensors will be installed across more than 2000 parking bays in Werribee’s CBD and surrounds during coming weeks.
Smart Parking technology will use the sensors to determine, in real-time, when a parking space becomes free.
This information will link up to the app, allowing drivers to see where available parking is located using an in-built Google Map function.
The app will verbally direct drivers to empty spaces.
Wyndham’s smart cities portfolio holder, Cr Aaron An, said the app would be available on both Apple and Android smartphones.
“It will provide drivers with a more pleasant experience in the Werribee city centre, enabling people to spend less time searching for car parks and more time visiting Werribee’s terrific restaurants, cafes and stores,” Cr An said.
“This is particularly important as businesses get back to normal trading as COVID-19 restrictions are progressively lifted.”
Wyndham’s director of city operations, Stephen Thorpe, said: “The usual road rules apply when using the app, so you should have your phone on a mountable or hands-free system and refrain from touching it while driving.”
Mr Thorpe said the council was not planning to use the Smart Parking technology for the purposes of issuing infringements.
“Wyndham City does not intend to use this technology in the way the Smart Parking pods enable councils to identify overstays and then issue a fine,” he said.
“Wyndham City intends to use this technology to understand how parking is being used in different areas of the city to help focus our enforcement efforts where they are needed to ensure fair access for everyone to the available parking.
“The data we receive about the parking will show us where we have greater and lesser demand for parking spots and how often they are used.”
Details: wyndham.vic.gov.au/project/smart-parking
