Six sites selected for multi storey carparks

Six sites have been identified in the Warragul central business district for potential multi-level car park developments.

Baw Baw Shire will seek expressions of interest from developers who may want to develop a car park on one of the sites.

However, council also will consider business cases for privately owned sites.

The six council-owned sites identified include Williams Square car park, Barkly St car park, Civic Centre (with access from Albert and Smith Sts), 21-29 Queen St, 48 Mason St and 51A to 53A Mason St.

The Warragul Parking Study commissioned by council in 2015 indicated there will be a need to provide between 1400 and 1800 additional parking spaces by 2030.

Based on these findings a number of council owned sites have been identified as potential options for the construction of a multi-level car park to assist in the provision of parking into the future.

Cr Mikaela Power said council had recognised there was a need for extra parking.

“This is a bit of a let’s see what’s out there process.

“There is interest out there so it will be interesting to see what comes forth,” she said.

The expression of interest process will allow private developers to provide options to achieve the best outcome for the development of the site and the best financial model to reduce the cost of providing car parking by council.

The sites identified as part of the expression of interest process will have site specific considerations and components that council expects to see delivered including:

The current number of public parking spaces on the site are provided as part of any redevelopment to the public free of charge;

Any proposal maximises the number of car parking spaces on the site to ensure the anticipated parking spaces required by 2030 and delivered;

Ensure that any proposal includes an active street frontage; Any additional floor space created in a proposal is to be provided with the required car parking;

Ensure that any proposal includes design excellence to minimise visual bulk; and,

The development should be based on a no or minimal cost to council or the community above the contribution of land for the car parking spaces.

The report said there also was an opportunity to develop alternate private sites for car parking in the Warragul area.

The business case could look at providing for sale of other council sites or land swaps to reduce the financial burden on council and the community.

“The provision of car parking could result in increased traffic and greater production of carbon monoxide from vehicles exhausts, while the provision of more car parking in a central location will reduce the need to circumnavigate the business centre cutting travel times, and increasing health and wellbeing through people walking to their destination,” the report said.