THE $14.9 million Edward Street multistorey car park opens for the public today.
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City of Greater Bendigo mayor Alec Sandner yesterday officially opened the new complex in front of more than 100 people.
Cr Sandner arrived at the second-floor ceremony inside the car park in his mayoral car, waving the first ticket out the window.
“It is a project that has been talked about for many years and this is an example of this current council that is visionary and a can-do council,” he said.
Cr Sandner said he expected it would take time for people to start using the car park.
“I don’t think we will see this full tomorrow, but like the existing car park, that one is operating at capacity now, but it was a few months after it was built before it got into that situation,” he said.
“It is going to take some time for people to get used to this facility but the 90 minutes for free will be an attraction.”
State Trustees has agreed to a long-term lease on the ground floor of the complex.
The council will announce the second tenant in coming weeks.
The five-level building includes 100 reserved car parks, 320 short-term bays, 40 secure bicycle parks and 52 security cameras. Parking is free for 90 minutes a day.
Council chief executive Craig Niemann said the completion was an important milestone for the council and reflective of the council’s future.
“We’ve understood that we need to do what we say,” he said.
“It has been really important that we deliver on what we say we will do. Council budgets are really important to put community money together, to say yes we will come and deliver these projects.
“I think it is really important that we have got the right people there running these projects now.”
The council funded the project without assistance from state or federal governments.
Cr Sandner said rent from the two ground-floor retail outlets and revenue from parking would pay off the complex within 11 years.
He said the council could consider selling the asset at a later date, a decision he said would be a matter for future councillors.
“That issue is a personal one of mine. I believe this building, if it went onto the market now would command a price higher than what it has cost,” Cr Sandner said.
“I believe it would be (considered by councillors). Whether or not it happens, is yet to be seen. On the other side of the coin, once this is paid for in 11 years’ time it is a big income earner for the council so there are two schools of thought and I respect that.”