Meter installation

Installation of new parking meters in Horsham has begun this week.

Horsham Rural City Council will install more than 60 new parking meters in the city’s centre and increase time limits at most bays from one hour to two hours.

Mayor Robyn Gulline said 361 ageing meters, some dating back to the 1960s, were located across the city – and had now reached the end of their serviceable life.

She said the council would replace existing meters with 60 modern meters.

The first stage of works involves cutting into pavement and installing foundations. The meters will be fully installed and operational in early March.

Cr Gulline said the current meters were outdated, prone to failure, and required parts which were no longer manufactured.

She said the new meters were solar powered and included coin, card and app operated options.

Cr Gulline said signs would alert motorists of the change and provide instruction on how to use the new meters.

“Replacing the old meters with next generation technology will provide consistency and will help keep traffic moving around the CBD,” she said.

“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 approving the project at a meeting last year, the council said the new ‘smart city system’, which integrates with the council’s corporate system, would cost $735,359 plus GST and applicable inflation increases on annual fees during a five-year period.