Following an extensive community consultation process, between 18 March and 26 April 2019, Council resolved in June 2019 to introduce in-ground vehicle detection sensors in five locations in and around Church Street in Brighton:

• Church Street, between Male Street and New Street;
• Carpark at 21–27 Well Street;
• Carpark behind 115 Church Street;
• Black Street carpark; and
• Carpark at 5 Well Street.

These sensors were installed in July 2020 and assist shoppers in locating available public parking spaces. This includes electronic parking signs displaying the number of available spaces and a mobile app called UbiPark.

This technology has been in operation for over 18 months. A communications campaign was launched in December 2021 to promote the technology to residents and visitors, as it was less utilised during the periods of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns in 2020-21 when parking availability was not a significant an issue.

The objective of this project is to evaluate the usefulness and current community awareness of the parking sensor technology among visitors travelling by car to the Church Street precinct.

COVID-19 restrictions have affected trade and the need for parking in all areas of Bayside, including Church Street. With many shops and business closed or only open for ‘click and collect’ services during lockdowns, the need for parking has been greatly reduced.

Therefore, community awareness of the new parking technology may have also been reduced as finding an available car park was easier than during normal trading periods.

We’re undertaking research while no COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are in place to understand community awareness and experiences of the technology.

• awareness of electronic parking signage and UbiPark app
• whether the electronic parking signage and UbiPark app are being used
• whether shoppers find the technology useful in finding available car spaces
• whether traders have received fewer customer complaints about car parking
• whether traders feel that the technology has led to any increase in trade.

• community feedback will be provided to Council which may inform decisions to introduce similar technology in other shopping precincts in Bayside.

• the short-term future of parking technology in Church Street.

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Impact: What level of change the stakeholder/community segment may experience as a result of the project /matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought. The impact of COVID-19 restricts our ability for face-to-face communication, as well as slower distribution of printed mail.

Key tools for communicating the project

• email notification to Have Your Say members
• website news stories and This Week in Bayside e-newsletter
• social media posts
• direct emails to key stakeholder groups, including trader groups and Church Street mailing lists

Key methods for gathering feedback

• face-to-face intercept surveys with shoppers on Church Street
• survey online via Have Your Say website for traders and shoppers
• printed surveys available on request
• Council officer contact to provide direct feedback over the phone or via email.

The data is being collected to gauge the effectiveness of the new technology that has been introduced. This feedback will be presented to Council for their information. It is expected that the information will be presented to Council at the May or June 2022 Council meeting. The data may also inform future decision making on whether to introduce similar technology in other shopping precincts in Bayside.

Please click on the blue ‘Subscribe’ button at the top of the page to be kept updated on this project.

Henry Lee

Acting Coordinator Transport Planning

Phone 9599 4394

Email hlee@bayside.vic.gov.au