The Regional Car Parks Fund will deliver new free car spaces in Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and across the Latrobe Valley to take pressure off local streets and make it easier to get in and around Victoria’s growing regional cities.
More than 650 new free car park spaces will be delivered in Ballarat, contributing to a wider delivery of more than 2,300 new car spaces across the CBD and surrounds by 2026.
The fund will also deliver 100 spaces in Maddingley (Bacchus Marsh) and 900 spaces across Traralgon, Morwell and Moe to meet growing demand.
The Regional Car Parks Fund is being delivered through Regional Development Victoria together with local councils, government transport agencies and key local partners.
State-wide, delivery of these car parks will create more than 200 regional supply and construction jobs.
Below are some project updates for Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Latrobe Valley.
Ballarat
More than 650 new free car parking spaces will be delivered across Ballarat with locations primarily focused on activity areas around the CBD, the Health Precinct and central sporting precincts.
The new car parks are in addition to the almost 1000 spaces built at the Ballarat Station Precinct, Creswick Road and Eastern Oval over the past two years in support of significant Victorian Government investments that target Ballarat's sustained growth.
The initiative recognises and responds to the pressure on parking availability driven by increased development and economic activity across Ballarat CBD, which attracts more visitors, shoppers and workers.
From 2021, Regional Development Victoria sought community feedback (by survey) on potential locations alongside ongoing feasibility works.
The Government also worked closely with the City of Ballarat, Grampians Health and Federation University to identify preferred locations and design solutions for the additional free car parking spaces across Ballarat.
By November 2024, 547 new free and timed spaces were open for public parking at the following locations:
- 65 completed spaces at White Flat Oval
- 48 completed spaces at Havelock Street
- 34 completed spaces at Market Street
- 400 spaces at the Ballarat Base Hospital.
Car park construction will provide around 100 regional jobs.
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 2019 | Announcement of Regional Car Parks Fund |
| from Mid 2019 |
Site Investigations and key stakeholder engagement Precincts of need and opportunity identified |
July 2021 |
Initial phase of first 150 spaces to be constructed announced Community Engagement on five locations for mostly multi-level car parks Detailed feasibility works commence |
| February 2022 | Construction at first locations commenced |
| April 2022 | White Flat Oval car park opens |
| September 2024 | 400 public spaces open at the Ballarat Base Hospital car park |
| 2025 | 120 repurposed spaces to open to the public at the Ballarat GovHub |
Bacchus Marsh
On 27 April 2022, Bacchus Marsh was announced as the location for 100 additional car parking spaces under the Regional Car Parks Fund.
The upgraded and additional spaces will be constructed around the perimeter of Maddingley Park Reserve sports precinct to relieve parking pressure and respond to demand created by the fast-growing community.
Additional and accessible car parking is a key priority for the Moorabool Shire Council with the area expected to grow by 25% by 2031 from 36,000 to 48,000 people, with most of the population residing in Bacchus Marsh.
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| April 2022 | Announcement of 100 new additional car spaces at Maddingley Park Reserve Bacchus Marsh. |
| June – October 2022 | Final design and tender process for first component, estimated 60 new formalised spaces along Taverner Street, supporting the Reserve, new Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) stage 1 and new residential estates. |
| October 2022 -February 2023 | Construction of Taverner Street new parking component. |
| mid 2022 – early 2023 | Design work for next stage components for approximately 40 new and/or formalised spaces on Grant Street opposite Bacchus Marsh College and additional parking for MARC stage 1. |
| Early 2023 | Works to commence on next stage components. |
| Mid 2024 | 100 car spaces open to public use |
Latrobe Valley
Community and stakeholder engagement followed by feasibility works led to the endorsement of eight sites in the Latrobe Valley across Traralgon, Morwell and Moe identified below.
Locations have been chosen for their proximity to key activity centres, public transport and to align with current and future parking demands.
Three car park sites in Morwell and Moe are now open, with works progressing to deliver the remaining sites in Traralgon and Morwell.
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 2019 | Announcement of Regional Car Parks Fund |
| From mid 2019 |
Site Investigations and key stakeholder engagement Precincts of need and opportunity identified |
| October 2019 | Shortlisted locations announced and community engagement |
| April 2020 | Agreement by Latrobe City to manage completed car parks and complete feasibility works, funded by RCPF |
| Mid – late 2020 | Detailed feasibility works and concept designs |
| Early – mid 2021 | Funding and lease negotiations, staging of initial locations and larger multi-level co-development opportunities |
| June 2021 | Funding grant to Latrobe City to deliver approximately 270 spaces across four first stage car park locations |
| March 2022 | Locations and solutions, balance of stage 2 works approved, tender process for first stage locations underway |
| October 2022 | Completion of Princes Drive East and Princes Drive West sites in Morwell |
| December 2024 | Opening of extension to Seymour Street car park, Traralgon |
| Ongoing | Staged completion of Latrobe Valley car parks across various locations |