Several payment machines at Hobart’s busiest multi-storey car park have been replaced with cashless alternatives.
The Hobart City Council has removed a number of the old yellow cash payment terminals at the Argyle Street car park, swapping them for card-only machines.
The move comes alongside a bump in parking fees, which went up at the start of the month.
Hourly rates for stays of up to seven hours have increased by $1, while the maximum daily charge has gone from $23 to $25.
Council CEO Michael Stretton told Pulse that people who prefer to pay for their parking with cash can still do so.
He said the change is part of ongoing efforts to modernise council infrastructure and improve the customer experience.
“The replacement of the yellow machines at Argyle Street has been in planning for some time,” he said.
Stretton confirmed there are currently “no plans” to phase out cash payments entirely.
He said council staff will keep an eye on how the new machines are used and gather community feedback to guide future decisions.
“Planning for future upgrades will continue as part of the city’s parking strategy over the next 12 months,” Stretton added.
Parking is a major money-maker for the council. In 2023–24, it brought in $28.45 million in fees, with $11.89 million spent on operating costs – leaving a surplus of $16.56 million.
Parking fines brought in an additional $5.23 million, down from $6.87 million the year before.
