Council parking permits ticketed to go virtual

Residents in the Mosman local government area on Sydney’s lower north shore claims to be the first council to introduce ‘virtual permits’ in NSW.

The scheme came into effect last month, with over 1,000 households now eligible to switch to digital permits and avoid the queue at the registration office.

The council said the move reflects NSW’s removal of vehicle registration stickers, with parking inspectors now checking licence plates against a digital database rather than looking for a sticker in the car’s window.

Mosman Council general manager Dominic Johnson said the new online parking permit system allows existing and prospective permit holders to securely lodge and update their details up to four times a year, as well as pay for the permit.

“Once residents successfully renew online they will be registered in a simple streamlined system confirming they are entitled to park in that area, enabling users to enjoy peace of mind that their physical permit cannot be lost or stolen,” Johnson said.

To prove their eligibility for a residential permit, applicants must submit a photo of their driver’s licence, showing their Mosman address. After filling in “a few details” and paying, no further action is required until the permit expires in 12 months or the permit holder’s details change.

“It reduces the need for paperwork, speeds up processing, reduces waiting times for face-to-face appointments at our customer service desks and allows greater flexibility when changing vehicles, although of course, if assistance is required, residents may still come to council to speak with our customer service team,” Johnson added.

“The scheme is designed to ensure residents are able to enjoy ease of access to their homes in areas prone to receiving numerous visitors and offering online parking permits is simply a council initiative to build on that convenience.”

He did stress, however, that other elements of the parking scheme, such as eligibility criteria, remain in place.