Tickets no longer needed as City of Bunbury’s new Smart Parking system goes live

Visitors to Bunbury no longer have to grab a ticket when they visit the CBD after the city’s new Smart Parking system went live on Monday.

The new parking system includes in-ground sensors which have replaced ticket machines, meaning visitors to the City of Bunbury don’t have to obtain a ticket when they park.

Time limits will remain in place, with two-hour free parking on street bays. New in-ground sensors will communicate in real-time with the city and enable it to monitor occupancy rates and notify when someone has overstayed the limit.

Bunbury mayor Jaysen Miguel said keeping time limits on street bays was vital to creating “vehicle churn” for business owners.

“The city’s new Smart Parking system is a step in the right direction for Bunbury, with parking in our beautiful city more convenient than ever,” Mr Miguel said.

“It’s important to remember that parking remains free, but it’s vital we support our local business owners by keeping time limits in place.

“For those that wish to stay in our CBD longer, I encourage you to park at one of the free all-day carparks, grab a coffee and check out our unique retail stores on your way to your destination.

“I’m proud we’ve been able to keep parking free and easy in Bunbury while supporting our local businesses.”

There are eight new pay-by-bay parking meters at long-term car parks to enable visitors to pay for extra time if needed.

In a statement, the city said it was not its intention to deploy parking officers immediately to issue infringements for overstays.

The new system also involves the launch of the city’s new way-finding app, which is intended to help visitors plan their journey and pay for extra parking if needed.

The city said the Park Bunbury app showed carpark details and availability, landmarks and destinations, along with locations of importance such as defibrillators and public toilets.

It said the new parking system was expected to save a considerable amount each year in maintenance and renewal costs compared to the old meter system.