Terms, privacy and data sources

Last updated .

Disclaimer

Park-AU shows parking restrictions worked out from public data: council parking sign records, OpenStreetMap and the Australian Road Rules. It is a guide only. The data can be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and some colours are best guesses where no sign data exists (shown in a lighter shade).

The signs and road markings where you park always take priority over this app. You are responsible for parking legally. Park-AU doesn't know about temporary signs, events, roadworks, unmapped driveways, fire hydrants or recent changes. Don't use the app while driving.

Terms of use

These terms apply when you use the Park-AU website or app, which is run by ("we", "us"). By using it you agree to them. If you don't agree, please don't use Park-AU.

Information only

Park-AU is provided free of charge, for general information. We don't promise that it is accurate, complete, current or available at any particular time, or that a place shown as available to park is legal, safe or free of charge. Always read the signs and follow the road rules.

Our liability

To the extent the law allows, we are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of Park-AU or reliance on it, including parking fines, towing or clamping fees, vehicle damage, or loss of time or income. Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy you have under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot lawfully be excluded. Where our liability for a failure to meet a consumer guarantee can lawfully be limited, it is limited to supplying the service again.

Using Park-AU safely and fairly

Don't use Park-AU while driving. Pull over safely or have a passenger use it.
Don't interfere with the service, for example by sending automated requests at a rate that disrupts it for others.
The map data is open data and you may reuse it under its licences (see Data sources and licences).

Third parties and advertising

Park-AU relies on services and data from third parties, listed below, and may show advertising from third-party ad networks. We don't control and aren't responsible for third-party content, ads or websites, and showing an ad isn't an endorsement.

Changes

We may change, suspend or stop Park-AU, or change these terms, at any time. The date at the top of this page shows when they last changed; continuing to use Park-AU after a change means you accept the new terms.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of , Australia.

Privacy policy

This policy explains what information is handled when you use Park-AU, consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles. Park-AU has no accounts, and we don't ask for your name, email address or other contact details to use it.

Stored on your own device

Your display choices (which map layers are switched on), in your browser's local storage, so they're remembered next time.
Copies of map and parking data, in your browser's cache, so areas you've viewed load faster. Some copies are kept for up to a week.
The app's own files, if you install Park-AU or open it on the web, so it starts quickly.

This stays on your device and isn't sent to us. Clearing your browser's site data removes it.

Your location

Park-AU only asks for your location when you tap the "my location" button, and your browser or phone asks your permission first. Your position is used on your device to move the map. It isn't sent to us or stored. Like any map, once the map shows an area, the data for that area is requested from the services below, which can tell roughly which area you're looking at.

Services that receive requests from your device

To show the map, Park-AU's pages make requests directly from your device to the services below. Like any website, these services receive your IP address, browser details and the area or address requested, and handle them under their own privacy policies. Some are located outside Australia.

Our hosting provider, which delivers Park-AU's files and pre-built parking data and keeps standard server logs.
OpenFreeMap (background map), openfreemap.org.
OpenStreetMap Foundation's Nominatim service (address search: the text you search for is sent to it), privacy policy.
OpenStreetMap Overpass servers (street data, only outside the cities with pre-built data).
Council open data portals (Brisbane City Council, City of Melbourne, City of Sydney) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (council boundaries).

Advertising

Park-AU may show ads from third-party ad networks, such as Google AdSense, to keep the service free. Ad networks may use cookies, device identifiers and similar technologies to show ads, limit how often you see them, measure how they perform and, where you've agreed, show ads based on your interests. Google's use of advertising cookies lets it and its partners show ads based on your visits to this and other sites. You can turn off personalised ads in Google's ad settings or learn more at How Google uses cookies in advertising and Your Online Choices. We don't sell personal information.

Analytics

Park-AU doesn't currently use analytics or tracking of its own. If that changes, this policy will be updated first.

Children

Park-AU is a general-audience service and isn't directed at children under 16.

Access, correction and complaints

We don't hold personal information about you beyond what's described above. If you have a question or complaint about privacy, contact us (below) and we'll respond within 30 days. If you're not satisfied, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Data sources and licences

OpenStreetMap: roads, car parks, crossings, traffic lights and bus stops. © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL) 1.0. Park-AU's pre-built parking data (the files under data/ on this site) is derived from it and is likewise available under the ODbL 1.0.
Brisbane City Council (© Brisbane City Council): parking signs, kerb lines, clearways and parking meters, used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.
City of Melbourne: parking bays, bay sensors, parking zones, sign plates and meters, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
City of Sydney: council car parks, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Local Government Area boundaries and city-centre suburb outlines (ASGS), © Commonwealth of Australia, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
Road rules: the Australian Road Rules as adopted by each state, summarised in plain language.
Software: Park-AU is built with open-source software including Leaflet and MapLibre GL JS. Their licences and copyright notices are in third-party-licences.txt.

Councils and OpenStreetMap don't endorse Park-AU. Data has been changed from its original form: matched to roads, combined with other sources and simplified.