DELIVERY delays have pushed back the installation of 17 new parking meters in Hamilton’s CBD to January.

Southern Grampians Shire Council has been advised by its contractor that it is still waiting on delivery of the new meters to Hamilton, and as a result, the contractor needed to reschedule the installation date.

The new-generation machines will be installed between January 8 - 19, with seven on Gray Street, six on Thompson Street and four on Brown Street.

The installation schedule will prioritise minimising disruption to businesses during this period.

Users will be able to pay for their parking by tapping a bank card/pre-paid debit card or using the Easy Park phone app, meaning there will be no requirement to display a ticket on the vehicle dashboard and cars can be moved multiple times in the CBD during the paid period.

SGSC chief executive, Tony Doyle, said all parking would be free in the Hamilton CBD during the installation period of the new smart meters.

“We will communicate to the public the dates for free parking in the CBD,” he said.

“For those interested in seeing how the new parking meters operate, we welcome you to inspect a sample meter at council customer service in Brown Street during business hours.”

Following businessowner consultation, parks along a busy section of Brown Street were recently reduced to two- and four-hour maximums. The Easy Park phone app is already active in the Hamilton CBD and can be used to pay for parking in bays with both existing meters and new ones when they arrive. The app can be downloaded from easypark.com.au