Black numbered discs at the front of each parking space in Rotorua will help the Rotorua Lakes Council to enforce new parking regulations.

Each park will have a unique number to help with monitoring and enforcing parking, the council said in a statement.

When an infringement notice is issued, vehicles will be photographed. The numbered disc is designed to help provide clear identification of the offending vehicle and the bay in which it is parked.

New machines installed earlier this year have been successful.

'To date, the new parking system appears to be delivering the results intended,” the council's community compliance leader, Kurt Williams, said.

'We partnered with i-Park in May this year to implement a new parking system that increases flexibility and payment options for users and to assist with increasing the turnover and availability of parking spaces in the CBD. We're pleased with the results so far and will continue to monitor progress in the New Year.”

■ Meanwhile, the next stage of Rotorua's inner-city parking upgrade is set to start early next year now the first eight new parking machines have been installed.

Installation of the new machines in Whakaue Street and Pukaki Street began in last month.

The remaining 72 new i-park parking machines would be installed early next year, Williams said.

While meeting with general approval, Williams noted corresponding signage could be clearer.

'We are working to remedy this and aim to have revised signage up in the New Year to clarify what is paid and what is free parking in time-restricted zones,” he said.

New equipment will roll out early in the New Year for Arawa, Pukuatua, Fenton, Hinemaru and Haupapa streets.

Adjustments would be made within the aforementioned areas where anomalies in parking or where the parking structure exist.

Some free parking located within a paid parking section will become paid areas and some P15 parks will be relocated to other spaces.

Williams said a much free parking within walking distance of the inner city remained. The multi-tiered Pukuatua parking building offered a five-day concession card for $20.