Parking in Mooloolaba is about to get easier with the new ParknGo Mooloolaba Central car park officially opened today.
The new eight-storey car park, situated on the corner of First Avenue and Smith Street, will feature 700 public car parking spaces including 13 disabled parking spaces, 2 electric vehicle charging bays, plus 54 motorcycle spaces and 50 bicycle spaces.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said he had no doubt ParknGo Mooloolaba Central will provide a significant benefit for the local community and businesses and visitors to Mooloolaba for decades to come.
"At a total cost of $23.5 million, which includes both the multi-deck car park facility and improvements to surrounding infrastructure and roadworks, this has been a significant project which is destined to contribute to the revitalisation of Mooloolaba," Mayor Jamieson said.
"At the same time, the parking stations will enable Mooloolaba to better cater for the increasing number of visitors to this part of our Sunshine Coast from both within and beyond our region.
"Delivering this facility fulfils an important component of the Placemaking Mooloolaba master plan, where the need for more car parking was identified as a high priority by residents, visitors and traders alike.
"At a time when our local economy – particularly the construction sector – needed surety to withstand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had some 800 workers through the site.
"In addition to increased parking, the ground floor of the building includes space for commercial tenancies which Council hopes to award in the New Year.
"The mixed-use tenancies facing First Avenue will activate the street frontage, enhancing and complementing the existing laneway community".
Locally owned and operated business, Evans Built, constructed the new car park.
Evans Built Director Sean Evans said Evans Built is proud to have worked with council in delivering this exciting project for our community.
"The benefits from this project have flown through to Sunshine Coast contractors, suppliers and businesses and many workers have been involved throughout the course of construction," Mr Evans said.
"Evans Built is part of the Mooloolaba community and one of our key aims is supporting our local business operators.
Mayor Jamieson said parking would be free until midnight on Sunday 17 January 2021 as an introductory offer, although time limits would apply.
In line with council's Parking Management Plan and the Local Area Parking Plans endorsed in 2017, parking fees of just $2.50 per hour (capped at $12.50 per day) will be introduced at ParknGo Mooloolaba Central from Monday, 18 January 2021, to proactively manage parking demand and turnover to increase business patronage.
On-street parking in the central Mooloolaba precinct will reduce to two hours or less from January 18, 2021. Signage will be in place to advise motorists of the time limits.
Sunshine Coast Council's ParknGo Mooloolaba Central ambassadors, dressed in blue ParknGo shirts, will be on site to assist car park users from today (Wednesday 23 December 2020).
