By NICOLE VALICEK
A multi-storey car-park that could cost $4 million will be an option considered by the council to ease the congestion at the rear of the Williamstown Town Hall, library and Coles supermarket complex.
Hobsons Bay City Council has agreed to explore the provision of decked parking at the site to tackle increased parking demand and lack of spaces available in this part of the Williamstown Activity Centre.
Councillor Peter Hemphill said parking has been a “premium” around the centre and any form of decked parking in this location would go through the proper planning process.
This includes a design assessment/input particularly in respect to the new library and Town Hall buildings.
The council has been in discussion with representatives from Coles to consider a joint venture to determine if they would be prepared to enter into a private/public partnership arrangement to construct decked parking.
Coles has since expressed an interest in the arrangement citing that “parking demand for their supermarket has been stretched beyond its capacity”.
Councillor Paul Morgan said while the proposal to erect a multi-level car park may be “controversial” and not the “most desirable outcome for the site” options needed to be considered now.
“It is a significant issue that we need to deal with sooner than later and we need to look at ways to reduce pressure on parking especially around surrounding areas,” Cr Morgan said.
According to the council the area was identified in the Williamstown Activity Centre Parking Study in 2009 for potential decked parking provision.
The existing parking area contains both privately leased and limited public parking spaces.
One proposal discussed by both parties would provide an additional 120 spaces, with an option to construct an additional level if required in later years.
The council would be required to fund up front half the decked parking construction in this option at an estimated cost of $4 million to fully construct the parking (as at last May).
The second option would see Coles construct decked parking over the Coles and the council land with the council paying for its share of the costs through a vendor term payment.
According to the construction estimates provided last May, this proposal was estimated at 10 $369,000-a-year payments to Coles.
“We are hopefully able to find a good resolution for this and hopefully achieve an outcome that will ease a lot of the pressures that we currently face right now,” Cr Morgan said.
A further report will be tabled at a future council meeting.
