What does ‘digital parking’ mean?

From 9 March 2026, we are phasing out coin payments for parking in central Geelong. Drivers will be able to pay at the meter by debit or credit card and digital wallet or via the EasyPark phone app. 

Digital receipts are also replacing paper receipts.

Why is the City moving to digital parking in central Geelong?

Coin payments have fallen to under 5 per cent after seven years of steady decline. Increasing costs of more than $275,000 per year to ratepayers to collect money from meters are also behind the switch.

More than 95 per cent of drivers to central Geelong will be unaffected by the move and will notice no change to how they pay for parking, as they are already using digital methods.

Moving to digital will deliver a more dependable parking system and enable better use of ratepayer money.

What are the benefits of digital parking?

• More reliable meters without paper or coin jams
• More control over your stay through the EasyPark app, ensuring you don’t pay for time you don’t use and allowing drivers to extend their stay
• Reduced operating costs (parts and labour) from printer and mechanical faults.

Do I need to do anything?

You don’t need a smartphone for digital parking.

If you have a debit or credit card, digital wallet or the EasyPark app, you don’t need to do anything. You will be able to pay for parking in central Geelong through these methods.

If you don’t have a debit or credit card, you can purchase a prepaid Visa or MasterCard from major retail stores such as Australia Post, Coles, Woolworths and JB Hi-Fi.

Alternatively, drivers can instead park in non-metered parking spaces located around central Geelong or at privately operated paid car parks.

Did you do any community consultation about plans for digital parking?

Yes. More than 900 people engaged with the City about the plan during consultation between 24 September – 15 October 2025, with around 500 survey responses received.

Requests from the community for educational resources support our planned roll out of information sheets and stickers on meters linking to a parking meter guide.

We’re also producing information sheets in other languages and website information on where to buy a prepaid Visa/Mastercard as a result of consultation.

What if I don’t want to pay via debit card, credit card or via the EasyPark app?

Drivers can instead park in non-metered parking spaces located around central Geelong or at privately operated paid car parks.

Parking remains free on weekends.

What are the fees for using a credit/debit card or EasyPark?

Credit/debit card

With changes that come into effect on 1st October 2026 credit card surcharges have been removed from our parking meters.  There are no extra card fees to use your credit/debit card.

EasyPark

The EasyPark app allows you to extend or dial back the parking duration remotely from your phone. You only pay for the time you actually use.

It can be downloaded through the iTunes store or at Google Play.

It offers two pricing models:

• Subscription ($1.99 per month plus 2.25 per cent commission per transaction) – best for more regular visitors to central Geelong.
• Casual (parking fee plus 11.5 per cent commission).

It also works across EasyPark’s network in all Australian states.

For more information visit the EasyPark website.

Are there step-by-step instructions about how to pay for parking digitally?

Yes. We have a handy guide available on our website.

Parking meters will have stickers with QR codes linking to the guide.

Customer Service can print copies of the guide on request at the Wurriki Nyal civic precinct: 137-149 Mercer Street, Geelong (open 8:00am to 5:00pm), Boronggook Drysdale Library Customer Service Centre: 2-8 Wyndham Street (open 9:00am to 5:00pm) and Corio Village Customer Service Centre: Corner Bacchus Marsh and Purnell roads (open 9:00am to 5:00pm).

Will there be a way that I can still pay with coins?

We are phasing coin payments out in central Geelong, so drivers will need to be prepared to pay digitally at council parking meters.

Community members will continue to have the option of parking in un-metered parking spaces or at privately operated paid car parks.

Coins are legal tender and should continue to be accepted at parking meters in central Geelong?

It is legal for organisations and businesses to choose which payment types they accept, and they do not have to accept coins.

More information can be found at ACCC payment methods.

You will still be able to pay by debit or credit card at the meter, which is a payment method most people are already familiar with.

What would happen if the meters or the EasyPark app weren’t working due to an outage – how would I pay?

If the parking meter doesn’t accept your debit or credit card, or is displaying a fault:

• Drivers can request urgent machine service by texting 0447 400 500, or
• Phone our Customer Service team on 03 5272 5272.

If the EasyPark app isn’t working, drivers can call 1300 73 40 70 for assistance.

What happens if there is a banking outage and I am unable to make digital payments? I don’t want to get a fine.

You can notify the City by texting 0447 400 500 or phoning our Customer Service team on 03 5272 5272.

Some people have low levels of digital literacy and struggle to understand how to pay digitally on the meter.

They can phone our Customer Service team on 03 5272 5272 for assistance or ask one of our friendly meter technicians or parking officers if they are nearby.

We also have a handy user guide for our parking ticket machines that has step-by-step instructions for drivers to follow.

Drivers will still be able to pay by debit or credit card at the meter without a mobile phone, which is a payment method most people are already familiar with.

In a cost-of-living crisis, it is unfair that drivers will have to pay extra in surcharges on top of increased parking fees.

We understand that there are community members struggling with the cost of living.

Community members continue to have the option of parking in un-metered parking spaces around central Geelong.

We’re working to ensure our operations are as sustainable as possible and by moving to digital parking, like other councils, we’re using ratepayer money more responsibly.

With changes that come into effect on 1st October 2026 credit card surcharges have been removed from our parking meters.  There are no extra card fees to use your credit/debit card.

Will the City introduce an option for paid parking in central Geelong that doesn’t involve fees?

We will monitor the roll out and may explore this in future policy reviews.

How do I obtain a receipt for my parking?

If you paid through EasyPark:

• Open the EasyPark app on your phone and click the button at the top right of your screen, then press ‘Activity.’
• Make sure you are on the ‘History’ tab, then select the session you would like a receipt for.
• At the bottom of the screen, press ‘Send receipt to email.’

If you paid at a parking meter:

• Note the receipt code displayed on-screen after the transaction
• Go to the website my-receipt.com
•  Enter the receipt code and car registration number to retrieve the receipt
• A video demonstration is available - How to retrieve your e-receipt