[Updated 3 August to clarify the number of car park spaces]
An impromptu ‘fun day’ offering free food, drink, and entertainment at the new Hume City Council mukltideck car park in Sunbury cost ratepayers $18,000. The figure was released by the council to Sunbury Life today.
The Sunday 28 July event, which gave councillors Jack Medcraft, Jarrod Bell, and the town’s MP Josh Bull (Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure Delivery) a photo opportunity, didn’t appear to be well attended. Official photos of the event were posted on the council’s Facebook page.
When we sent our photographer along to capture the day there was near empty car park lined with vans offering refreshments and entertainment. A DJ was on site playing music, and there was faceprinting for children. Temperature on the day was 12 degrees.
The Evans St multideck car park has 311 spaces for rail commuters, although the original plan – according to a September 2023 council press release – was for 400 spaces.
In addition, 170 spaces for local shoppers have been returned to use. This area was closed to motorists while it was used for plant and machinery used in the construction of the adjacent multideck car park.
There has also been a budget over-run. The cost of the multideck was put at $25.88m in 2023, but the final cost is just over $39m.
Since it opened on Monday 22 July, some users have commented online about the lack of security cameras.
A council spokesperson says 24-hour security is in place for the first three weeks to “monitor safety and inform future security measures”. Security cover will end by Monday 12 August.
“Consideration for the installation of security measures at the Sunbury multideck will be assessed by council,” says the spokesperson.
That means cabling for cameras will now have to be retrofitted. The top level of the car park is already showing signs of drivers doing burn-outs in their cars.
Above: a video produced by Hume City Council featuring mayor Naim Kurt (left) and Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure Delivery, MP Josh Bull (Sunbury).
The council’s 4 September 2023 press release:
Hume City Council is delivering on its commitment to ease parking congestion in Sunbury’s CBD by launching the major construction phase of its new multi-level car park at an event on Tuesday 5 September, 2023.
This marks the next phase in improving conditions for both commuters and users of Sunbury’s Town Centre in the high traffic area following the closure of the existing car park in June, and the completion of preliminary works.
With a total of 400 spaces being created to cater to these competing demands the rapidly growing Sunbury population will have more freedom to choose public transport as a viable transport option, while de-congesting surrounding streets being used as a daily parking option.
While the benefits will be felt by commuters, shoppers and residents alike, we understand the project comes with a period of interruption and thank the community for their patience.
The project is being delivered by Hume City Council and jointly funded with support from the Victorian Government’s Car Parks for Commuters Program, the Victorian Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution, the Australian Government’s Urban Congestion Fund and Hume City Council.
The state-wide Car Parks for Commuters Program has helped deliver 11,000 new and upgraded car parks across Victoria, freeing up local streets and generating jobs across Victoria.
Hume City Council is grateful its work in advocating residents in its growing suburbs is being met with funding contributions at all levels to deliver vital infrastructure that keeps development in line with growth.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hume City Cr Joseph Haweil:
“Hume City Council is excited to break ground on a project that will help free up local streets from commuter parking stemming from the rapidly growing population in Sunbury”
“We are proud of the many benefits the new multi-deck car park will deliver in reducing congestion, meeting the needs of shoppers, and encouraging more people to catch the train.”
“We know the positive impact of this project will be widely felt by different sections of the community and appreciate locals giving us the time to create a more functional CBD for Sunbury.”
Quotes attributable to for State Member for Sunbury Josh Bull MP:
“We are getting on with the job and can’t wait to deliver this much needed upgrade for our growing local community.”
“These upgrades will make it easier for both commuters that use the train and the wider Sunbury community who will benefit from increased parking within the precinct.”
Quote attributable to Federal Member for Hawke Sam Rae
“This project is a huge step forward in making access to public transport and parking easier for people in Sunbury. Whether it be travelling to work, school or heading to the shops.”
Learn more about the Sunbury Multi-deck Car Park project.
ENDS
