BRISBANE – As of March 17, 2026, Brisbane drivers will navigate metered parking with an expanded digital payment selection. The city’s parking infrastructure will integrate a second app-based provider, PayStay, to operate alongside the existing CellOPark system. This move signifies a substantial pivot towards digital transactions, with over half of Brisbane's 4.5 million annual parking payments already conducted via applications.
The introduction of PayStay is presented as a measure to enhance driver choice and bolster the reliability and convenience of the city's parking payment network. This coincides with a noticeable decline in traditional meter usage, with credit-card transactions at meters having dropped by 18 percent since 2020. Street signage detailing the new payment option is slated for installation beginning next week.
Expanded Digital Choices
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has framed the addition of PayStay as a strategic move to empower motorists. "Having multiple digital parking providers gives drivers freedom to choose their preferred app while improving reliability and convenience," Schrinner stated in a December 2025 announcement. This emphasis on choice is echoed by officials, who highlight that competition among providers is expected to elevate service standards for drivers.
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CellOPark Australia is set to remain operational throughout the transition period to ensure continuity for its existing user base. Information regarding parking zones, fees, and approved applications is accessible via the Brisbane City Council's website.
Enforcement and Criticism
The expansion of digital parking services comes against a backdrop of significant parking enforcement activity. Approximately 200,000 parking fines were issued in the last financial year for infractions such as overstaying meter limits or blocking bus stops.
Reports from late 2025 indicated an increasing reliance on technology, including artificial intelligence, for the issuance of these fines. The shift to a dual-app system has not been without its critics. The Labor opposition, in the previous year, had voiced reservations about the plan for a new app. While their recent focus has turned to parking fine revenue, some commentary has labelled the app expansion a "delayed fix" that fails to address wider transport challenges.
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Transition and Background
PayStay, chosen through a competitive tender process, is already in use in some parts of New South Wales and at Griffith University. Its integration into Brisbane's system aims to streamline payments and reduce service disruptions. Some initial communications to users suggested a transfer of CellOPark accounts to the new app, a point that has been a source of confusion.
The initiative represents a tangible step in the city's ongoing digital transformation, mirroring a broader trend of increasing mobile-based transactions across various services. The move aims to accommodate the growing preference for app-based payments among urban populations.