THE Southern Grampians Shire Council endorsed the removal and replacement of 204 pay-by-space parking meters across the Hamilton CBD at last week’s ordinary Council meeting.

The installation of new ‘next generation’ parking meters will enable cashless, pay-by-plate, contactless and ticketless machines.

Southern Grampians Shire Council mayor, Cr Bruach Colliton, said the replacement of the coin-operated parking meters will assist Council to gauge activity and encourage traffic flow within the CBD.

“We acknowledge that currently there is a real inconsistency across Hamilton in relation to operational parking meters which ultimately creates confusion amongst drivers,” he said.

“Replacing the old coin operated meters with next generation technology will provide consistency and will help keep traffic moving around the CBD.

“We know historically there has been issues with people parking in front of shops for extended periods, which in turn prevents other shoppers from accessing those parking locations.

“Completed traffic engineering studies have shown us that paid parking is effective and efficient in managing those priority parking spaces within the CBD to enable movement of shoppers, ultimately increasing foot traffic to our local businesses.”

In 2020, Council adopted the Hamilton CBD Masterplan which discussed the broader future of parking meters in the CBD.

This strategic document recommended Council keep paid parking, but upgrade to new parking meters with additional payment and enforcement technology.

Council said the next generation parking meters will offer a higher level of functionality to reduce operational costs.

“The Covid experience has provided us with key data that shows shoppers are now carrying less coins which has also contributed to Council’s decision to provide a cashless parking meter option,” Cr Colliton said.

“The new meters will also be powered by solar, eliminating the need for mains power connectivity and providing a more cost effective and sustainable option.”

However, councillor Albert Calvano raised a question about people who might not have a card and still use cash, such as the elderly, and in response, planning and development acting director, Peter Brown, said the Shire was working on a solution.

“If people are in a situation where they don’t have access to a credit or debit card, then we will make arrangements with them to ensure that they are still able to park in the main street or in the CBD,” he said.

“What we will do is create a registry of people in that situation and their registration numbers and so people will have the opportunity to make that application at the time the new parking meters are installed.”

Following the meeting, Cr Calvano said setting up an account with the Shire was not enough and he’d “prefer a modernised parking meter” next to each space that still included cash payments.

Many people on social media also criticised the move, not just the lack of a cash option, but even the presence of the meters as such, claiming they discouraged shopping in the CBD and Council should look to examples such as Mount Gambier which offered free parking.

Disabled and commercial parking spaces were not expected to change, and Council also discussed the potential sale of the individual meters as items of value to collectors.

Hamilton CBD has 204 allocated metered bays and 15 of these have no meters, six are missing poles and 40 are displaying faults.

143 meters are operational, delivering a 70 per cent equipment effectiveness and the Shire said the ability to repair defective meters is severely hampered by ageing technology, and availability of spares and resources to repair infrastructure.

It was recommended that Council allocate $160,000 to deliver the project and implement the changeover.

Cr Colliton said it was a necessary step to upgrade the meters.

“This is the first step in Council moving towards the renewal of Hamilton CBD and will make a significant improvement to the aesthetics and functionality for residents and tourists,” he said.

Parking meter renewal in the Hamilton CBD is consistent with the 2021-2025 Council Plan and the new meters are expected to be introduced over the next 12 months.