Sensors to help improve parking in Darby Street

City of Newcastle (CN) will install parking sensors along Darby Street to help improve parking availability for customers of local businesses. 

Darby Street commercial precinct was selected as a location for the new technology in response to feedback received during the recent Streets as Shared Spaces trial, and as part of recommendations identified in CN's Parking Plan 'On the Street'. 

Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said supporting local businesses by improving parking turnover in this popular area is a priority. 

"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," Cr Clausen said. 

"Most businesses surveyed in the Darby Street and Hamilton precincts supported the installation of parking sensors.

"Installing the sensor technology will allow us to collect data on parking occupancy and turnover, ensuring parking spaces and restrictions suit the needs of customers and traders now and into the future. 

“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."

In the coming weeks, 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 carpark behind the Hotel Delany. 

The sensors do not collect identifiable information, but 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.

Additional locations for parking sensors are under review for commercial precincts in Beaumont Street, Hamilton, and selected areas of Hunter Street, Newcastle.

Installation is planned to occur later this year in Hamilton, with areas in the Hunter Street precinct in Newcastle under consideration for installation in line with current infrastructure works in this area.