VicRoads plan eases parking woes in Sunshine

About 50 car spaces earmarked for VicRoads’ new regional office at Sunshine could be used for public parking.

Plans for the new seven-storey building include office space, 150 carparks, space for a retail tenant and an information centre on the ground floor.

Construction is expected to begin later this year, once plans go through council.

The new building, proposed for the southern end of Clark and Withers streets, will take up 90 existing car spaces.

But a planning report states VicRoads is proposing to lease 50 of the 150 car spaces proposed in its application.

A VicRoads spokesman confirmed there would be a mix of staff and private parking.

In a letter to the council, VicRoads relocation manager Grant Deeble said the new building was designed “to be inviting to the community”.

“People will be able to learn about a road project under construction or a project under planning,” he said.

“[It] will not just be a space where the community can talk to VicRoads people, it will also be a very interactive space for people to be informed about transport-related matters. It is also planned that the space would be used for community meetings.”

VicRoads acting regional director metro north-west Brian Westley said the agency’s 200 employees at Sunshine would be encouraged to ride, walk or use public transport to get to work.