The new pay-by-plate system means drivers don’t need to print out a ticket and walk back to their car to display it.

The meters will provide for cash, credit card, payWave and online payments. 

This will require motorists to enter their vehicle number plate details to activate a parking session.

The system will provide tax receipts where required.

The pay-by-plate technology also has a mobile app which allows parking sessions to be managed remotely. 

Warrnambool City Council’s director of city infrastructure Scott Cavanagh said the new meters offered convenience.

He said people could “simply tap in their details and continue on their way”.

“The app offers even greater convenience because you don‘t have to use the parking meter at all,” Mr Cavanagh said.

“The app also means that you can stop your parking session at any time – so you only pay for the time you use.

“The parking sessions are also transferable between like parking zones. If you are in a two-hour zone, have some time left on your parking session but want to move your car to a different spot, you can move your car to another two-hour zone.

“With the new system it’s important to ensure that you check the parking sign that applies to the space where you have parked your car. Shoppers are also encouraged to take advantage of the free 90-minute parking now available in Ozone Car Park as part of the city centre renewal business support package.”

The parking app is called CellOPark. It is free to download and is available for Android and Apple smartphones.

Mayor Robert Anderson said the new meters were “so much easier”.

“You don’t have to worry about a ticket,” he said.

On Thursday or Friday if there is no meter available near car parks while the new ones are being installed, people do not have to pay for parking, but they must observe time limits.