Electronic sensors will sit under the road surface in a parking space and measure how long a car remains parked.  

If the car stays longer than the time limit, plus a grace period, a ranger is alerted. 

Rangers will issue cautions before fines in a honey moon period so drivers get used to the new system.

Forster Tuncurry Business Chamber president Gary Gersbach said they started discussing the sensors with Council after reducing the amount of car parks at Memorial Drive was proposed.

"The sensors should enable more efficient use of car parking so the business community will benefit and demonstrate the benefit of this parking rather than their removal,” Mr Gersbach said. 

“We support timed parking spaces.  The shorter stays allow our customers to find a car park in busy peak periods. In addition, more visitors to an area generates more business for traders.”

Mr Gersbach said if someone wanted to shop longer  or go fishing off the wharf, they could park at Wallis Street for free.

Great Lakes Council waste health and regulatory services manager John Cavanagh said they hoped all drivers obeyed parking rules so no one would get fined.

"However, a small number of drivers regularly choose to disobey the rules by parking longer than allowed,” Mr Cavanagh said.

“These drivers take away public parking resources that otherwise would be available to law abiding drivers in our community.

"Please warn your family and friends and spread the word. You will get fined if you overstay in Memorial Drive and Wharf Street Forster.”

He said parking sensors were used around NSW since 2005, and had proved reliable.

A Council spokeswoman said the sensors were not for revenue raising.

She said they expected fewer parking fines would be issued after an introductory period, which meant their revenue would drop.

However, drivers who previously disobeyed parking time limits will learn that overstaying is no longer a bet worth taking.