Maroochydore CBD paid parking facility approved, construction looms
Work will start this year on Maroochydore’s first paid parking facility with Sunshine Coast Council already setting aside millions for the project.
Work will start this year on the Maroochydore CBD’s first multi-deck car park with Sunshine Coast Council already allocating $13m towards the project.
State government approval was granted in December for the 350-space paid parking facility to join the growing number of office spaces and hotel complexes being built in the 53ha CBD.
CBD developer Walker Corporation lodged planning documents but the project already has council funding allocated with $13m promised in the 2021-22 budget.
However a council spokesman confirmed the final cost would only be known once tenders for design and construction were completed.
Mayor Mark Jamieson said it would be the first of a number of multi-deck car parks at the city centre.
“If you’ve taken a drive around the new Maroochydore city centre recently, you would have seen it’s a bustling hub of construction and business activity,” Mr Jamieson said.
“With offices, residents and restaurants now enjoying the emerging city centre, providing additional carparking will further support the growing activity in the area.”
Following approval being granted in December the construction contract is expected to be awarded early this year.
The $13m allocated towards a paid parking facility at Maroochydore was one of the most expensive single projects funded in the most recent council budget.
At the time the council confirmed it would be funded through borrowings and would add to the $186m the council spent on CBD as of July 2021.
They said the loan would be repaid over 12 years by using paid parking revenue, in a similar model used for the Mooloolaba parking facility.
The car park will be located on Lightning Lne, adjacent to Foundation Place which features Market Lane and Giddy Geisha restaurants.
It will have 294 car spaces, including electric vehicle charging spaces, 56 motorcycle and 28 bicycle spaces.
It will also include ground level retail spaces.
Walker Corporation will project manage delivery of the car park as part of the Maroochydore City Centre Development Agreement.
It is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2023.
Parking fees will be considered by council at a future council meeting.