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more attractive.”

Crowther said many people would still want to drive “but unless we want to be known as a city of congestion, with concrete flyovers and parking buildings all over town, we need a decent 21st-century public transport system and we need it soon”.

Transport advocate Heidi Hughes said the sale of the hub was “the best of a really unfortunate situation”.

Hughes, who resigned as a city councillor in December, said she did not believe providing carparking was a council’s responsibility.

“This is signalling that yes, it was really handy to have bike parks and showers in there but this is something that organisations should be looking at themselves, what do they need to provide for their staff?

“I believe this is a good move onwards. It will help rebuilding the city.”

In response to Hunt’s criticism, a council spokesman said the council last year committed to monitor parking availability and “take action to keep supply and demand in balance” to start which remains the case.

He said the agreement for Harington St retained a significant number of public parking spaces.

Construction of the seven-storey transport hub was halted in September 2019 over structural and foundation issues found after a steel beam twisted during a concrete pour.

The council decided to formally abandon the project in June 2020, with $19m spent from a planned budget of $29m.

The total accrued costs, as of September, were $20.5m.

The hub was expected to have 250 parking spaces for cyclists, 53 for motorbikes, 535 car parks, 15 mobility parks, electric charge points for cars and e-bikes, and showers and lockers.

In August the council initiated civil proceedings in the High Court against some parties involved in the project.

In October it provisionally approved the demolition of the structure, pending now completed negotiations for another option for the site.

The property title transferred to the new owner on March 19.