Bogong Avenue car park project progresses
Published on 07 February 2022
Planning and providing for some of the additional and replacement car spaces required in the Glen Waverley Activity Centre is a step closer with Monash Council appointing Katz Architecture as the lead design consultant for the Bogong Avenue car park extension.
Previously working with Council on Oakleigh’s Atkinson Street car park, Katz will develop plans for some of the additional and replacement car spaces required in the area.
Council has been firm in its commitment to providing additional, accessible and safe car parking spaces to residents and local businesses. Council has also been clear that it considers that the Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) has a shared responsibility to provide for the required additional and replacement car spaces in the Activity Centre.
Council had previously identified a suitable parcel of its land for redevelopment as a mixed-use multi-level car park at 31–39 Montclair Avenue. It had progressed feasibility and design work for this car park so that construction could have started.
The SRLA informed Council of its intention to acquire this site (amongst a number of other Council-owned land parcels) as the preferred location for the Suburban Rail Loop’s Glen Waverley station. This meant that it was no longer feasible to continue with the Montclair project. The acquisition also means that approximately 200 additional car spaces, which are currently on the site where the car park was to be built, also need to be provided for somewhere else in the Activity Centre.
As a result of the SRLA’s notification that they intend to acquire the land, Council undertook alternative site investigations and identified an existing Council-owned multi-level car park at 1–5 Bogong Avenue. Council identified this as a site that could accommodate some of the additional and replacement car parking to meet the needs of the GWAC.
Council expects the Bogong Avenue design to accommodate approximately 370 additional car spaces. It also expects a further 336 car spaces to be provided elsewhere in the GWAC and will continue to work with the SRLA towards achieving this outcome. It is imperative that an acceptable and appropriate solution for providing these car spaces is found. In particular, the car spaces need to be close to and easily accessible to the Kingsway spine, the heart of the Activity Centre.
Design work for the Bogong Avenue car park extension started earlier this month.
Monash Mayor Cr Stuart James said Council remained committed to providing replacement and additional car parking spaces in the GWAC and was pleased to be progressing this design work.
"Finding land that is available, of a suitable location and the right size is a significant challenge," Cr James said.
"We're determined to reach an agreement with SLRA.
"They'll own the best positioned land for car parking to service the Activity Centre and Council is committed to securing their agreement and commitment for the remaining replacement and additional car parking spaces.
"This is vital to the continued vitality of the Activity Centre, particularly as businesses recover from the challenges and difficulties of the COVID pandemic."