New Landmark Development for Ballina CBD
Ballina Shire Council has now lodged a development application to redevelop its Wigmore carpark site in Tamar Street Ballina to create a multi level carpark. The proposed development will be a landmark building in the CBD and features shops at ground level, three upper levels of parking and office space on the top floor.
The building will house a total of 260 carspaces, 200 of which will be allocated to public carparking and replacing the 60 carspaces currently on the site.
The new development will also incorporate and enhance the public transport interchange facility currently on the site and improve access to buses and taxis.
Mayor Phillip Silver said the proposed development is a major initiative by Council to service the current need for more parking in the CBD.
"The North Coast Regional Strategy released by State Planning earlier this year identifies Ballina as an emerging regional centre and as such Council recognised the need to develop infrastructure and services to cater for a strong economy", he said.
The development concept for the site was formulated by award winning architectural firm Bligh Voller Nield, in association with Archimages Architecture, and local consultants including Tsikleas Andrews, and Ardill Payne & Partners.
Howard Lawrence of Bligh Voller Nield said that the company’s brief was to maximise the carparking capacity on site, while designing good quality retail and office space and acknowledging other design links of the town centre. Bligh Voller Nield designed the carpark and commercial space taking environmental impacts into consideration by incorporating rain water harvesting, and efficient techniques in lighting and air-conditioning.
"We are really happy to be a part of this project, working alongside local consultants on a job that we know will directly benefit the community of Ballina," Mr Lawrence said.
Bligh Voller Neild is known for its designs nationally, having worked on the Sydney Olympic Stadium, Brisbane International terminal and carpark and Domestic Airport terminals, the Mater Mothers Redevelopment, and the Inner Northern Busway in Brisbane.
Construction is expected to commence in late 2007 with completion in 2008.
June 15th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Dear Sir or Madam,
I feel that the money for the Wigmore Arcade Parking project could be far better spent. We don’t need any more parking in Ballina CBD, any healthy person could walk to Crane Street, where I always easily park and walk the 200 meters to River Street.
The Wigmore Arcade Parking Area that now exists, could become a carpark for the Elderly or Infirm. The council could issue a permit to park there and it could be policed regularly. I am 61 years of age and will not be asking for that parking spot.
Yours sincerely David Middleton
September 17th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Dear Sir or Madam whom it may conserne.
I think that this developement is the best devolopement ever made by the Ballina Shire Council and I do think this is kind of out of the blue but I think it will help boost tourism along with The Bypass letting more cafes into Ballina and The Gateway Project and The Ramada and Ballina Central and Ballina Fair and Ballina Heights, River Oaks, River Bend, Angels Beach which all will boost Ballina’s size into a small but reasonable sized city. I may only be young but I have lived here all my life and I think that this developement is really needed.
Yours sincerely, Kieran Mann
September 17th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Thanks for the comments Kieran!
Personally, I agree wholeheartedly, although there will be those that disagree. The River foreshore is really starting to take shape and I finally feel proud to take visitors down there for a look rather than embarrassingly dodging it.