Georges River Council has launched a smart parking app for the Hurstville CBD, using sensors embedded in parking spaces to show drivers real-time availability and guide them to open spots.

The app, available for free on iOS and Android, covers 1,200 on-street parking spaces across the Hurstville commercial district, with plans to expand to council car parks and surrounding suburbs in 2026.

How It Works

Sensors installed beneath the road surface in each parking space detect whether the space is occupied. This information feeds into the app, which displays a live map showing available spaces colour-coded by location.

Drivers can:

• View real-time availability before leaving home
• Set destination and receive guidance to nearest available spots
• Pay for parking directly through the app
• Receive reminders before their parking expires
• Extend parking time remotely (where regulations permit)

The system also integrates with existing council parking meters, allowing drivers to choose between app payment and traditional coin or card payment at the meter.

Why Hurstville Needed This

Hurstville CBD attracts over 50,000 visitors daily, with parking consistently ranked as the top concern in council community surveys. Studies showed that during peak times, up to 30% of traffic consisted of drivers circling looking for parking.

“That’s wasted fuel, wasted time, and unnecessary pollution,” said council’s transport director Michael Chang. “If we can get drivers to an available space faster, everyone benefits.”

The $2.4 million project was funded through a combination of council reserves and a NSW Government smart cities grant. Ongoing operational costs will be offset by parking revenue and reduced enforcement costs.

Early Results

The app launched three weeks ago, and early data is promising:

• 12,000 downloads in the first week
• Average time to find parking reduced by 6 minutes during peak periods
• Parking revenue up 8% (attributed to increased compliance)
• Positive user reviews averaging 4.2 stars

Local business owners have noticed changes too. “People are actually finding parks near my shop now,” said Jennifer Huang, owner of Hurstville Books on Forest Road. “Before, they’d give up and go to Westfield where parking is easier. Now they’re coming back.”

Privacy Considerations

Council emphasised that the system doesn’t track individual vehicles or store personal data beyond what’s necessary for payment processing.

“The sensors know if a space is occupied, not who’s occupying it,” Chang clarified. “We don’t collect number plates, and payment information is handled by our existing secure payment provider.”

Users can also use the app’s map features without creating an account, though accounts are required for payment and reminder functions.

What’s Next

Phase 2 of the project will add sensors to the multi-storey car parks on MacMahon Street and Woodville Street, expected by mid-2026. Phase 3 will extend coverage to Kogarah and Mortdale.

Council is also exploring integration with navigation apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps, so drivers can see parking availability within their existing navigation experience.

“This is about making Hurstville easier to visit,” Chang concluded. “When parking is less stressful, people stay longer, spend more, and are more likely to return.”

The app can be downloaded by searching “Georges River Parking” on the App Store or Google Play.