Council data reveals since January 2018, a month after the new meters were installed, up to and including May 2019, a total of 9322 parking fines had been issued.

"It is important to note that parking fines are issued for illegal parking across the city, not only the city centre," a council spokesman said.

He said parking infrastructure, including meters, came at cost which was why council had introduced the new parking app.

"The cost of the 93 meters was in the order of $800,000," he said.

The smart parking meters take coins, credit cards and there is a mobile phone app.

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"In May, 38 per cent of parking was done via app," the council spokesman said.In that month cash payments fell below 50 per cent for the first time while credit card payments are usually 10 to 15 per cent of payments.

A council spokesman said over 2018-19 the council had forecast parking fines would generate about $440,000.

The Standard asked how many tickets had been contested and how many of those had been upheld or forfeited.

The council said unpaid fines were referred to the infringements court.

A council spokesman said parking limits existed to ensure that there was a turnover of vehicles to accommodate new customers in the city centre.

"Before parking limits were introduced parking spaces were often occupied by business employees which meant there were fewer spaces available for customers," he said.

"Parking is a user pays system and parking revenue helps cover the cost of enforcement of time limits, maintenance of car parking spaces and the creation of additional parking areas."

He said the parking app provided by Cell-O-Park was proving popular.

"Warrnambool residents have been quick to adapt to the smart parking system and Warrnambool has had a rapid uptake of the parking app," he said.

"One of the benefits of the parking app is that users pay only for the time they use whether it is 10 minutes or all day."

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