City of Launceston council will roll out the EasyPark app across the city in all council-owned on-street and off-street car parks. The app will not include the three multi-storey car parks as credit card facilities are already available. 

Bathurst Street, York Street, Cimitiere Street, Willis Street, Royal Park, River Edge, Inveresk, First Basin, Park Street, Launceston Aquatic Centre and Memorial Hall and Home Point single-storey car parks will all be covered by the app. 

Mayor Albert van Zetten said the system had already proven itself a success across the world and within Tasmania, with Hobart, Burnie and Devonport city councils already using the system.

“From a user perspective, the EasyPark app will make parking in Launceston considerably easier,” he said.

“You will no longer have to worry about having change, you only pay for the time to use, you'll also have the ability to top up your parking meter up to the overall time limit of that meter and people who use the app will receive a reminder on their phone before their time expires.”

The EasyPark app is available free to download for Android, Apple and Windows phones and will be available for use from January 8, 2019 onwards.

Motorists without access to a smartphone can still use the cash-less service by a 1300 number. For people using the app, there is a 10 per cent surcharge for every parking transaction.

In the 2017-18 financial year the council issued 19,988 infringements worth $546,417 for parking meter offences. That is 2100 more than the previous financial year and an extra $123,102. 

The council’s general manager Michael Stretton said revenue is budgeted. 

“The budget contains estimates based on trends, but the council does not set quotas,” he said. “Revenue from parking infringements is incorporated into the council's budget and is used for a range of projects that benefit the community, including car park improvements, road upgrades, maintenance and improvement of parks and reserves like the Cataract Gorge, and helping to fund major projects like Riverbend Park.”

The parking metre limits exist to encourage regular changeover of vehicles, increasing the amount of people visiting the city.  

“There are many different user groups in our CBD from shoppers, commuters, and tourists, to public transport operators, service providers, and delivery vehicles,” Mr Stretton said.

“Our focus is on balancing the needs of these user groups to ensure good logistical operation of the city.”

Mr Stretton said parking management was one of the most effective ways to do this.