Works to create nearly 150 free car parks in Warrnambool will begin next week.
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The upgraded car park at the city’s railway station will include lighting and CCTV and a new footpath will link the park to the station and Gillies Street.
The $1million upgrade of the railway station includes the creation of 144 new free car parking spaces, taking the total number of parks to 175.
The works will begin on July 16 and are expected to be finished by October.
VicTrack has advised a small section of the car park will be closed during the upgrade, and has asked commuters to consider alternative parking arrangements.
It expects to begin works to improve accessibility at the coach interchange in August.
Fencing around the upgrade site is likely to be installed in the coming days.
Warrnambool City Council mayor Robert Anderson said he was pleased works were beginning.
“The site has been identified in a number of strategies as one of the best available to significantly increase the amount of parking available on the edge of the CBD,” he said.
“The addition of 144 free all-day carparks is great news for people catching trains to and from Melbourne, people who work in the CBD, students attending TAFE and anyone else who is looking to spend an extended amount of time in the city centre.
“These works also help the precinct meet the needs of a 21st century transport hub.”
The works are part of the state government’s Road and Rail Minor Works Program, delivered by VicTrack, to upgrade stations, bus stops and interchanges.
The goods shed will be demolished as part of the upgrades.
VicTrack applied to the Warrnambool City Council to have the asbestos-roofed building at the site demolished in order to build the car park and complete the other upgrades.
The proposal drew three objections from the community, with concerns raised around consultation and usage of the goods shed.
One objector said the shed could be restored and put to other uses.
He suggested it could become a community hall, museum, cafe or art gallery.
Any useable timber from the goods shed will be retained and incorporated, where possible, into the new work at the station, the city council has said.