Hi-rise plans for Bunbury carpark

Bunbury City Council has unveiled ambitious plans for a $12 million multi-level carpark and cultural precinct to reinvigorate business in the heart of the CBD.

Mayor Gary Brennan said the preliminary concept was subject to change and was aimed at starting conversation with the public.

The centrepiece of the project involves replacing the Wittenoom Street carpark, also known as Souths carpark, with a four or five-storey carpark of at least 300 bays.

But to make the plans a reality, the council will be forced to borrow $6.5 million and rely upon a $5 million contribution from State and Federal governments.

The council has $1.7 million in a fund from parking revenue.

The plans unveiled at Tuesday night’s council meeting show:

• Plans for at least four levels of parking with each level containing 75-80 bays.

• An option to close a section of Wittenoom Street between the existing carpark and the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries.

• The carpark next to the art galleries would be transformed into Gallery Square to be used as public open space for markets, pop-up shops and street performers.

• Gradual increases in parking fees to encourage use of free parking in the multi-level carpark.

The plan for the civic and cultural precinct comes from a working group of councillors, developers and figures from the real estate, construction and retail industries.

Feedback from the public will be used to modify the plans before it is voted upon by councillors.

“The working group has identified that a perceived lack of parking in the CBD was impacting on the viability of existing businesses and creating an impediment to new development, ” Mayor Gary Brennan said.

“Developing a creatively-designed carpark as part of a civic and cultural precinct would provide a long-term solution, as well as providing parking for those making use of the activated community space being created throughout the precinct.”

The public meeting to present the plans to the public will be held at council’s function room on March 24.