In the coming weeks, City of Newcastle will install parking sensors along Darby Street in an effort to improve parking availability on the popular strip.
The sensors will be set beneath the road pavement in parking spaces along Darby Street (between Queen and Bull Street), Council Street (between Darby Street and Council Street Carpark exit), and in the Council-owned car park behind the Hotel Delany.
This comes in response to feedback received during the recent Streets as Shared Spaces trial and as part of recommendations identified in City of Newcastle’s Parking Plan, On the Street.
“We conducted extensive consultation with businesses, as part of the highly successful Darby Street Streets as Shared Spaces project. From this feedback, we heard parking turnover was a concern for businesses, who requested that City of Newcastle explore more options to improve parking availability,” Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said.
The parking sensors will not collect identifiable information but will work by recording when a vehicle arrives in a parking spot and when it leaves, monitoring the length of time the vehicle has stayed in the space. This technology will help to identify vacant parking spots and optimize parking usage.
“Many local businesses have told us that some drivers are parking well beyond the two-hour limit, which prevents people who are coming for a meal or coffee from being able to find a spot on Darby Street. The sensors will support our staff in enforcing the existing time restrictions, whilst ensuring turnover.” Cr Clausen said.
Darby Street commercial precinct was selected as a location for the new technology due to the increasing number of visitors in the area.
The sensors will help customers easily find a parking space and avoid spending too much time looking for a spot. The new technology is expected to save time and improve convenience for visitors to the area, contributing to the economic growth of local businesses.
In addition to Darby Street, the CN is also reviewing additional locations for parking sensors in other commercial precincts, such as Beaumont Street, Hamilton, and selected areas of Hunter Street, Newcastle.
The installation of parking sensors in Hamilton is planned to occur later this year.
