The Rotorua District Council is testing electronic parking sensors along Pukuatua St as part of proposed parking initiatives for the central city.
The SmartEye vehicle detection sensor system is being trialled on 30 parking spaces along Pukuatua St between the ASB Bank and the Salvation Army Family Store and willmonitor when a vehicle comes and goes.
They will also be installed in some other locations known to be high in geothermal activity to see how the technology copes with Rotorua's unique environmental conditions.
Rotorua District Council Economic and Regulatory Services group manager Mark Rawson said the trial would not impact on parking meter and pay and display systems, or fees and enforcement, so people would need to continue feeding meters as usual.
"This trial will provide the council with broader insight into the potential for monitoring all parking within the CBD by way of this new technology.
"It will help council to assess the potential for introducing time-limited free parking within the CBD in the future."
Mr Rawson said signage explaining the sensors and the trial would be fixed to each parking meter in the testing area.
He said the parking trial will begin this month and continue for two to three months. Regular operational enforcement of parking would continue unchanged throughout the period.
