Toowoomba Regional Council is trialling the use of vehicle detection units (VDUs) in Toowoomba with the view to having more informed traffic and parking management in the CBD.

VDUs have been installed in 200 on-street parking bays in Ruthven and Margaret streets.

They operate via an in-ground unit under the road surface in each parking space. Each device is programmed with all the relevant data for that bay, including the time limit, the operating hours for the time limit, the bay number, the location of the bay, and the date and time.

Environmental and Community Services portfolio leader Cr Bill Cahill welcomed the trial.

“The VDUs will allow us to gather accurate data about parking behaviour and use patterns.

“Council is keen to monitor the data so it will be well briefed and have the ability to adapt parking policy to the needs of the retail sector and customers.

“The data will help council determine the best possible parking strategies to employ and will assist with enforcing parking restrictions in high-demand areas in the future.
“Off-street parking for long-term parking users, such as employees and all day shoppers or visitors, will be encouraged.
“This will make it fairer for people needing to access parking in these areas by ensuring there is a regular turnover of vehicles near shops and less people parking all day in on-street parking," Cr Cahill said.

When integrated with council’s current systems, a parking officer will be alerted to the presence of any overstay vehicles via a hand-held computer when walking near each VDU-enabled parking bay.

The VDUs will reduce the time needed for officers to monitor parking manually, such as by chalking or valve stem positions.

Cr Cahill said this advanced technology should make the routine work of a parking officer safer and allow them to monitor more serious parking infringements such as parking in 'no standing' areas, loading zones and disabled parking spaces.

He said council parking officers perform an important service by encouraging people to comply with road parking rules by their enforcement activity.

“However, we would prefer that motorists took the time to check signage and think carefully about where they park to meet their time needs.”

For information about parking in the city, follow this link to parking information.