After almost two years of delay, Invercargill’s coin-operated parking meters will be put to rest by the end of the year.
At an Invercargill City Council infrastructure committee meeting yesterday, council leisure and recreation group manager Steve Gibling said a contract had been awarded for the supply and installation of new parking equipment.
The work was set to be done in December, he said.
Mr Gibling said the council had been fortunate to get an earlier production date after planning to carry out the work in February.
The council would adopt a pay by number plate approach for both on-street and off-street car parks, allowing payment by coin, online or by card.
Cr Alex Crackett said it was a bittersweet feeling as Invercargill was one of the last remaining cities in the country using the ‘‘lollipop’’ coin-operated parking meters.
Mr Pearson said the council would sell some of the meters as many people were interested in purchasing them.
Several factors contributed to the delay of the new machines which included the Covid-19 pandemic and extensive research into the most suitable equipment for the city, he said.
