Ballarat commuters will have access to a new bus terminal inside the Ballarat Station Precinct after the state government announced $5 million for the interchange would be included in the upcoming budget.
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The bus terminal was a notable exclusion from the state government’s $25 million investment in the precinct when the precinct plan was unveiled in November.
Friday’s announcement defuses one of the primary tensions surrounding the precinct, with the temporary bus interchanges along Lydiard Street North and Ararat Street to be removed once the project is completed by the end of 2018.
Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford said the funding would allow stage one and stage two of the project to be delivered almost in parallel.
“This is the bus service the community told us they wanted, and this is the upgrade to this part of our central business area the community told us they wanted,” Ms Pulford said. “It was always part of our plans (to build the interchange), but with the funding now secured to do that, we can submit the final plans to the planning minister and Heritage Victoria and get building.”
The new interchange, which will house both V/Line and local buses, will be built to the north of the precinct between the new multi-storey car park and the station itself. The final planning applications are set to go before Planning Minister Richard Wynne and Heritage Victoria in the coming weeks, with construction to begin soon after.
Construction of the bus interchange should be completed before the goods shed convention centre so long as planning applications are passed within the coming weeks.
Ms Pulford also gave confidence to commuters driving to the station, saying a third level on the multi-storey car park near Nolan Street would be included in the designs submitted to the planning minister and Heritage Victoria.
However, Ms Pulford fell short of committing to funding the additional level in the 2017/18 budget, given the initial funding only secured a two-storey, 270-space park.
Representatives from the City of Ballarat are also due to meet with Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan next Wednesday to discuss the additional parking.
“The plans...will already have that extra level of parking so I think we’re very much on the same page (as the City of Ballarat) in what we want to achieve there,” Ms Pulford said.
“We’re all very keen to make sure this project provides everything that everyone needs.”
Lydiard Street North residents relieved by funding
Lydiard Street North residents have praised the state government’s funding for a permanent bus interchange which puts to an end months of uncertainty following the development of two temporary terminals in January.
The construction of the terminals on Lydiard Street North and Ararat Street sparked outrage among locals, with all domestic buses currently being directed along the route.
Resident Greg Honeyman said he was delighted with the decision, which will also see bus traffic enter the interchange via lower Nolan Street rather than being forced down Lydiard Street North.
“(The Lydiard Street North interchange) was a crazy, stupid idea and it would appear (Public Transport Victoria) have accepted they made an error and we’re delighted they’re taking efforts to remedy that error.”
Western Victoria Liberal MP Josh Morris described the funding as a “win for the people of Ballarat”, given the calls from commuters for the interchange to be included in the first stage of funding.
CIty of Ballarat mayor Samantha Mclntosh said while many residents would have liked to have seen the interchange given priority back in November, she was pleased to see action at the precinct.
“Our locals have been really keen to see the bus interchange committed to,” Cr Mclntosh said.
“The railway precinct is an area that has been neglected for many years...it’s important for us as a city that we have car parking available, we have appropriate interchange and that we have the heritage precinct respected as much as it can be whilst being activated.