If you’ve been to Miranda Westfield in the past few weeks, you might’ve noticed something different. The parking experience has changed, and people have opinions about it.

The centre rolled out a completely new parking system three weeks ago. Gone are the old ticket machines most of us could navigate with our eyes closed. In their place: number plate recognition, app-based payments, and digital signage showing available spots in real time.

I spent Friday afternoon talking to shoppers, and the reactions are all over the place.

What’s Changed

The new system uses cameras to scan your number plate when you enter and exit. No more keeping track of a ticket. You can pay through the Westfield app, at redesigned payment stations, or even set up automatic payment linked to your plate.

There’s also a new system of overhead lights in each parking bay. Green means empty, red means taken. It’s meant to stop that endless loop around Level 3 looking for a spot that doesn’t exist.

“I thought it’d be complicated, but honestly, it’s been fine,” says Maria, who was loading shopping into her car near the lifts. “The app tells me where to park, I shop, I pay on my phone while I’m in the coffee line. Haven’t touched a ticket machine in weeks.”

But not everyone’s having Maria’s experience.

The Teething Problems

Several shoppers told me they’ve been hit with penalty notices for overstaying, even when they’re certain they paid correctly. The centre’s managing this through a grace period right now, apparently waiving most disputes while the system beds down.

“I got a $90 fine notice in the mail,” says Jim, a Gymea resident who shops at Miranda weekly. “I paid through the app, got a confirmation, then two days later there’s a penalty. Took three phone calls to sort it out.”

The centre’s management says they’re working through these issues and that the error rate is dropping each week. They’ve extended their customer service hours specifically to handle queries.

There’s also confusion about the grace period. The old system gave you 15 minutes free. The new one gives you 20 minutes, but several people I spoke to didn’t realize this and were stressing about getting in and out faster.

What’s Actually Better

The real-time parking availability is genuinely useful. I watched the digital signs direct three different cars to empty spots on Level 2 that they would’ve driven straight past otherwise. During busy periods, that’s going to save a lot of circling and frustration.

The payment stations are also faster. I timed it: the old machines took an average of 90 seconds from inserting your ticket to getting your receipt. The new ones take about 30 seconds if you’re paying by card. The touchscreens are responsive, and you can see your total before you commit.

For regular shoppers, the app’s actually pretty handy. You can load it once with your payment details and your car’s plate, then it’s basically automatic. My neighbor’s been using it for two weeks and reckons it’s saved her at least five minutes per visit.

The Accessibility Question

I spoke to Margaret, who uses a walking frame and has a disability parking permit. She’s worried.

“The old system, I could take my time at the machine. These new screens, everything moves fast, and if you’re not quick it times out,” she says. “And I don’t have a smartphone, so I can’t use the app.”

The centre says there’s still attendant support available and that accessibility was a key consideration in the design. But Margaret’s not the only older shopper I met who’s finding the transition harder than it should be.

They’ve got attendants stationed near the payment areas during peak times, which helps. But on a quiet Tuesday morning? You’re on your own.

What Happens Next

The centre’s committed to the new system, so this isn’t going away. They’re running information sessions every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am near the food court, which is aimed at helping people who are struggling with the tech.

They’re also considering a simplified payment option for people without smartphones. Details are vague, but it’d involve a separate lane with staff assistance.

For most shoppers, this’ll become second nature within a month or two. The app works well when it works. The real-time parking info is genuinely useful. And the speed of payment is noticeably better.

But there’s definitely been a rough adjustment period, and not everyone’s finding it easy. If you’re heading to Miranda and haven’t used the new system yet, give yourself an extra ten minutes the first time. And maybe download the app before you go.

The old way wasn’t broken, exactly. But shopping centres need to move with technology, and Miranda’s trying to do that. Whether they’ve stuck the landing is still being decided, one parking session at a time.