By Charlene Gatt
FOOTSCRAY’S Western Hospital will receive more than 500 new car parking spaces as Maribyrnong City Council moves its works centre from Southampton St.
The council last week announced it had taken out a 20-year lease on the former Avery Dennison site along Sunshine Rd in Tottenham.
The 26,100 square metre site boasts an 8725 square metre warehouse, 869 square metres of office space and is approximately three times the size of the council’s existing works centre, which houses maintenance equipment and the council’s fleet of cars.
Footscray SES is also based at the Southampton St site.
CEO Vince Haining said the new space was big enough for the council to sub-let office space.
The council will start moving in early next year.
The existing Southampton St site will be remediated then converted into over 500 paid parking spots for Western Hospital in a bid to alleviate traffic clogging up in residential streets.
The council will provide temporary car parking spaces in coming months to help alleviate the strain while the site is being remediated.
Mr Haining predicts the new car park will be up and running in the next year or two.
He called the move the council’s most significant investment in the past decade.
“Car parking is at a premium at the hospital and freeing up this space for parking (is great),” he said.
“We’re trying to release the pressure our hospital is under.
“The decision to move shows great foresight by this council.
“We were faced with the reality of having to spend a significant amount of money on a dilapidated site… and this opportunity turned up. It’s modern and in good condition.”
Mayor Sarah Carter added: “The current site for the works centre is in a predominantly residential area and it makes more sense to move it to an industrial area.”
