Brisbane City Council announced a significant expansion of its digital parking ecosystem, revealing that a new pay-by-app provider, PayStay, will join the current sole operator, CellOPark Australia, starting in March 2026. This strategic decision to move from a single provider to two operators is intended to drive competition, enhance reliability, and deliver improved service quality and convenience for motorists,

The expansion formalizes the city’s leadership in digital parking innovation. The pay-by-app system, introduced in 2009, has surged in popularity and now accounts for more than half of the city’s 4.5 million annual parking transactions. This strong consumer preference is evident in the drop in traditional payment methods; credit-card meter payments have fallen 18 per cent since 2020.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner noted that since residents clearly prefer “faster digital options,” having multiple providers will deliver “more choice, more convenience and better service for drivers” as Brisbane continues growing,

The transition aims to improve services while also reducing the city’s financial burden. Increased digital usage will reduce reliance on traditional parking meters, which cost the council about $1.7 million a year to maintain. The city is already leaning heavily into the digital future, with 2600 of Brisbane’s 9126 paid spaces already designated as app-only.

The incoming operator, PayStay, began operating in 2014 and currently serves councils across New South Wales and Victoria, as well as campuses at Griffith University in Mt Gravatt, Nathan, Logan, and the Gold Coast, CellOPark Australia will remain available throughout the transition to ensure continuous service for existing users.

Acting Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, Cr Danita Parry, highlighted the direct benefit of the change for drivers, explaining that “Pay-by-app parking means motorists only pay for the minutes they use, rather than overfeeding meters”. This initiative ensures the city is “delivering a better, more modern parking experience right across Brisbane”.