The promised upgrade on the coin-operated parking meters is delayed until next year.
The Invercargill City Council included in its previous 2019-20 annual plan an upgrade of about 750 on-street parking meters, which would cost about $800,000.
However, council’s roading manager, Russell Pearson, said the project had not yet begun.
"We’re aiming to progress this project in early 2021.
"The allocated budget of $800,000 remains the same."
He said the delay was due to several factors, including extensive research of the most suitable equipment for the city and the Covid-19 outbreak which affected a lot of council’s projects.
"We couldn’t do much during the lockdown," Mr Pearson said.
Council was studying a pay-by-plate approach and an app similar to the ones used in Queenstown and Dunedin.
"All the existing meter heads will be removed and kiosks will be replaced. The app may be in advance of the new parking equipment."
Mr Pearson said — at the time of the annual plan approval — that "people no longer have coins" and new means of paying would be helpful for everyone.
