Wangaratta CBD Parking Payment System
Published on 29 October 2025
At last night’s Council meeting, Mayor Irene Grant tabled a report addressing the community’s interest in the app-only parking payment system introduced in the Wangaratta CBD on 1 July 2025.
Paid parking is not new to Wangaratta; it has been in place for decades. A user-pays system helps cover some of the costs of providing and maintaining sufficient parking in the CBD.
Irene Grant, Mayor Rural City of Wangaratta: “While CBD-wide free parking may seem appealing, it’s important to consider the broader impact. Without this revenue, we’d be forced to consider other options to fill this income gap. Either increase rates, reduce services, or introduce levies across the CBD.”
Council’s most recent change to paid parking was adopted at the February 2025 Council Meeting, with the removal of physical parking meters. As a result, the EasyPark app, which has been available since 2019, is now the primary method for paid parking in the CBD.
Leading up to 1 July and beyond, Council staff provided direct assistance to users to help with the use of the payment system. Council staff remain available if anyone needs help.
Council has also responded proactively to feedback where possible to improve the system for users. One example is the introduction of a six-monthly parking voucher option, complementing the monthly and annual options put in place as an alternative to the app payment system, to offer greater flexibility for users.
There has been a significant uptake in the use of EasyPark to pay for parking in the Wangaratta CBD since July 2025, with over 14,000 transactions in September 2025 compared to just over 7,000 in September 2024 and 8,000 in September 2023.
The average cost of parking in the CBD using EasyPark in 2025 so far is $0.72 per transaction with an average parking time of 36 minutes.
The EasyPark app offers a quicker, more flexible way to manage your parking. Users only pay for the time they actually use, which helps avoid overpayment often seen with parking meters. Additional benefits include receiving a free reminder before your parking time expires, and you can adjust your parking sessions directly from your device.
Ample free parking options remain available throughout the CBD for those who prefer not to pay during weekday business hours. Council has observed increased use of these free parking facilities, including in the Council-owned area of the Big W carpark.
Irene Grant, Mayor Rural City of Wangaratta: “It is important to know that our current paid parking arrangements are tied to the contract of the multi-deck car park in Ovens Street. This contract which was signed in 2012 and was aimed at responding to future parking needs in the CBD. The contract will run until 2034.”
“Council encourages residents and visitors to share their experiences with the parking system. Constructive feedback helps us continue to refine and improve the service to meet community needs. Council will continue to monitor how the parking payment system functions and will consider feedback and ways to improve the payment system. A review report will be prepared for the Council in June 2026.”
Additional Information
www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/Parking
www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/Services/Parking/EasyPark