Ipswich City Council

Parking

Council has a number of controls regarding parking, which it regulates through State Legislation and its local laws.  These controls are aimed at improving safety and convenience for our community and for visitors to Ipswich City through improved traffic management.

For more information on parking in Ipswich, please download a copy of Council's parking brochure below.

 Parking Meter Brochure (PDF, 2.5 mb)

Alternatively, pick up a brochure from Council's Customer Service Centre, 143 Brisbane Street (top of Ipswich Mall) or phone 1300 IPSWICH, (07) 3810 6666 or email council@ipswich.qld.gov.au

To report a faulty parking meter, please call (07) 3810 7575.

What are my parking options?

A variety of parking options are available in Ipswich, from on-street metered parking to privately operated off-street facilities.

Council provides a number of off-street car parks throughout the city, some of these car parks are controlled by time limits while others offer unrestricted parking, so please check the signage in each car parking area.

Pay and display parking meters are located in many streets in the Ipswich City Centre. Paid parking generally operates from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and from 8:00am to 11:30am on Saturdays, outside these times parking is free. However, other parking restrictions may still apply, so you should always check the information on the kerbside signs.

Council's Parking Map shows the metered parking areas in the Ipswich City Centre.

 Parking Map (PDF, 259 kb)

Motorcycle Parking

A number of free parking spaces reserved for motorcycle are located throughout the Ipswich City Centre.  The location of these spaces is shown on Council's Parking Map.

When parking in regular car parking bay, motorcycles must adhere to the restrictions shown on the signage and a ticket must be obtained if parking in a metered bay.  Tickets should be affixed to the registration plate or secured using a ticket display device.

Why do we need parking regulations?

Parking regulations assist in achieving accessibility and convenience for all members of the community. Council's approach to parking aims to:

• Assist in ensuring the safety of all road users.
• Promote equitable and transparent allocation of parking spaces across all user groups.
• Encourage the use of alternative transport modes such as bus, train, walking and cycling.
• Reduce traffic congestion, energy consumption and vehicle emissions.
• Accommodate the needs of local businesses and visitors to the City. 
• Reduce the number of spaces needed to meet demand.
• Encourage longer-term parkers to use less convenient spaces such as those off-street or on the city fringe.

How to use a 'Pay and Display' parking meter

1. Once you have parked your vehicle, check the parking signs to confirm the times that you can park there.
2. Look for a parking meter nearby with a blue ‘P' sign on the side, in some instances you may need to cross the road.
3. Insert coin(s) into the slot for the amount of time required.As the coins are inserted, the screen will display the amount paid and the time you have paid for.
4. Push the green button to print your ticket or the red button to cancel.
5. Collect your ticket and place it on your car dashboard so that it is clearly visible from outside the car.

OR

1. Insert credit card (numbers face up and to the left, insert card fully).
2. Select amount of time using the minus and maximum buttons.
3. Push the green button to print your ticket or the red button to cancel.
4. Remove credit card when prompted.
5. Collect your ticket and place it on your car dashboard so that it is clearly visible from outside the car.

Parking meters accept credit cards, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1.00 and $2.00 coins. Please note that the minimum fee for coin payment is 50 cents and for credit card payments the minimum fee is $1.00.  No change is given, so change for parking should to obtained prior to parking.

What to do if a parking meter is out of order?

If the nearest parking meter is not working please purchase a ticket from the next closest meter.

To report a fault, note down the meter identification number (located on the front of the meter or on your ticket) and call Council's parking meter hotline on 07 3810 7575.

What do the signs mean?

There are many different parking restriction signs, which may seem confusing at first. The following information will help you understand the different signs. 

No Stopping

A driver must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a no stopping sign applies. There may also be a yellow edge line which also means that stopping is not allowed. These lines can be used either on their own or together with the no stopping signs.

Clearway

A driver must not stop on a length of road to which a clearway sign applies, unless the driver is driving a bus or taxi and is dropping-off/picking-up passengers.

No parking 

Vehicles may stop for up to two minutes if the driver is dropping-off/picking-up passengers or goods. The driver must remain within three meters of the vehicle.

Loading Zone

Any vehicle is permitted to stand in a loading zone for up to 20 minutes when dropping-off/picking-up goods or for up to 2 minutes if dropping-off/picking-up passengers.

Unless otherwise indicated by the sign, buses dropping-off/picking-up passengers, trucks dropping-off/picking-up passengers or goods and vehicles displaying a commercial vehicle sticker issued by Council are permitted to stop in a loading zone for up to 30 minutes.

Loading Zone (Passengers 2 mins max)

Passenger vehicles only - 2 minutes maximum.

Loading Zone (Commercial vehicle 20 mins max)

Commercial vehicles only -20 minutes maximum. Passenger vehicles cannot set down or pick up in these zones.

Bus Zone

A driver must not stop in a bus zone, unless the driver is driving a bus that seats over 12 adults. Parking is not permitted 20 metres before a sign indicating a bus stop and 10 metres after the sign.

Taxi Zone

A driver must not stop in a taxi zone, unless the driver is driving a licensed taxi.

Works Zone

A driver must not stop in a works zone, unless the driver is driving a vehicle that is engaged in construction work in or near the zone.

Mail Zone

A driver must not stop in a mail zone. Also a driver must not stop on a road within 3m of a public postbox unless dropping-off/picking-up passengers or mail.

Time Restricted Parking

Parking time limits apply as indicated on the sign, examples include:

1/4P - a maximum of 15 minutes of parking is permitted.

1P - a maximum of 1 hour of parking is permitted.

2P - a maximum of 2 hours of parking is permitted.

3P - a maximum of 3 hours of parking is permitted.

4P - a maximum of 4 hours of parking is permitted.

These parking zones require payment if the word "METER" is displayed. Time limits and payment only apply within the hours and days indicated on each sign.

Disability Parking Space

A driver must not stop in a parking area for people with disabilities unless the driver's vehicle displays a current Australian Disability Parking Permit.

For further information on parking restrictions refer to the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation 2009

Disability Parking

Parking spaces designated for persons with a disability are provided throughout Ipswich to assist mobility impaired people to access all areas of the city. Council's Parking Map, shows the location of on-street parking spaces set aside for these users in the Ipswich City Centre.

Motorists issued with an Australian Disability Parking Permit (organisation and individual) are entitled to:

• Park in any space provided for a person with a disability in an on-street or off-street parking location, such as shopping centres, hospitals, etc.
• Park in local government metered or regulated parking areas free of charge for the following periods:
• where the time limit specified by a sign is less than 30 minutes, permit holders are allowed to park for 30 minutes.
• where the time limit specified by a sign is 30 minutes or more, permit holders are allowed to park for an unlimited amount of time.

Queensland Disability Parking Permit (Red Permit) holders are entitled to:

• Park in any designated disability parking bay, identified by the international symbol of access (regardless of colour), in off-street locations including hospitals and shopping centres.

However, permit holders are not permitted to park in restricted parking zones, for example clearways, no stopping, loading zones and bus zones.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads is responsible for the administration of both the Queensland Disability Parking Permit (Red Permit) and the Australian Disability Parking Permit (ADPP). For further information or any questions about the scheme, please contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 132 380 or Queensland Transport.

Heavy Vehicle/Truck Parking

Council has heavy vehicle parking controls in place to protect the safety of road users, pedestrians and residents. Parking or storage of heavy vehicles is to be undertaken in such a manner that it does not cause nuisance or disturbance to the community.

For further information on heavy vehicle parking please refer to the fact sheet below.

 Fact Sheet Heavy Vehicle Parking Hvpfs 211010 (PDF, 121 kb) 

Heavy and Long Vehicle Parking Permits

Council will consider issuing a permit to park Heavy or Long Vehicles on land in built up areas with the following considerations:

• Government requirements
• Public interest
• Safety issues
• Amenity issues
• Any additional criteria specified in a subordinate local law

 Heavy And Long Vehicle Parking Application (PDF, 125 kb)

What to do if you receive an Infringement Notice?

Council regulates parking within Ipswich through its Local Laws and State legislation to improve safety and convenience for our community and visitors to our city.

The Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation 2009 and Local Laws govern our city and include specific restrictions for the parking of vehicles. Failure to comply with these parking regulations may result in penalties through the issue of notices and fines by Council.

If you have received an Infringement Notice (fine) from Council you have 28 days from the issue date to pay the fine or to request a review. If you believe that the fine has been issued in error, you do have the option to have the matter reviewed by Council. 

A parking fine may be withdrawn for the following reasons: 

• Medical emergency - in the instance where an emergency situation contributed to the offence. A medical certificate is required to support a request to withdraw a fine on this basis.
• Motor vehicle breakdown - a vehicle break down occurred and reasonable actions were taken to minimise the risk to public safety and move the vehicle in a timely manner. Evidence such as a towing invoice or written statement from RACQ is required to support a request to withdraw a fine on this basis.
• Error with parking signage - a Statutory Declaration signed by a Justice of the Peace describing the nature of the error and how that contributed to the offence is required to support a request to withdraw a fine on this basis.
• The vehicle, at the time of the offence, was - being used illegally, being used by another person (nominated by you) or was sold or otherwise disposed of. A Statutory Declaration signed by a Justice of the Peace describing the circumstances and providing all of the details of the driver/new owner, or relevant documentation (eg for stolen vehicles a crime report/incident report number from the Queensland Police is required) to support a request to withdraw a fine on this basis.

For further information please refer to Council's Review Of Infringement Notices Fact Sheet

Payment Methods

What is the role of Parking Officers?

Council's team of Parking Officers plays an important role in creating a safe and accessible environment for motorists and pedestrians. Parking Officers are also an excellent source of parking information for visitors to the city so please feel free to approach the team with your parking queries

Parking Tips

• Read the signs carefully and adhere to the time restrictions to avoid the risk of receiving an infringement notice.
• Ask a Parking Officer - Parking Officers are approachable and are happy to provide assistance with parking.
• Be aware that some parking restrictions change at various times or on certain days.
• Do not stop at any time in a No Stopping Zone or Clearway.
• Do not park in a Bus Zone and be aware that motorists must not stop 20 metres before a sign indicating a bus stop and 10 metres after the sign. 
• Do not park in a Disabled Parking Zone unless you have a valid Australian Disability Parking Permit (ADPP) displayed in your vehicle.
• Do not park within 10 metres of an intersection without traffic lights or within 20 metres of an intersection with traffic lights unless a parking sign indicates otherwise.
• Do not park on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path or nature strip in a built-up area, unless permitted by a sign.
• Do not stop on or across a driveway unless stopping for no more than two minutes when dropping-off/picking-up passengers, please note you must remain within three meters of the vehicle.
• Don't park in Special-use zones. These zones are signed and ensure parking is available for taxis, ambulances, mail vehicles, police and emergency service vehicles.
• Do not park within 1m of a fire hydrant.
• If you park in a metered space for longer than the signed maximum time, you can be fined even if you obtain an additional ticket. You can fined for each successive period; so if you park at a one hour zone for over four hours, you could receive four infringement notices.
• If your car is parked illegally your insurance company may not cover a damage or personal injury claim.
• Plan ahead - Take a look at the Parking Map to find out where to park. Leave enough time to find a park without rushing and have some coins on hand for the parking meters.
• Remember that on-street parking in the Ipswich City Centre is intended for short-term stays. For longer stays, consider parking off-street or perhaps leave the car at home and catch a bus or train.

Last Updated 4 Jan 2012 | Print this page | Contact us | News Feeds | Copyright © 2012 Ipswich City Council
Printed From: http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/residents/laws_regulations/parking

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