Playford council’s Windsor carpark closes for public parking as urgent repairs carried out
Most of the “white elephant” carpark in Elizabeth has been closed for weeks as construction workers were spotted onsite.
North & North East
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A controversial multi-level carpark in Adelaide’s north – already under fire for previous underuse – is mostly closed until March for urgent repairs.
The $8.6m Windsor carpark, built by Playford Council just six years ago, drew controversy when it was erected before other buildings in the Elizabeth CBD were completed.
In 2020, The Advertiser reported it had attracted just 120 paying customers in the two years since it was originally built as part of the Elizabeth CBD.
Now the carpark has been mostly closed since January 15 for “warranty” repair works, according to Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty.
“Work is being undertaken on the Windsor Carpark to fix defective elements of the western facade,” Mr Docherty said.
“It is important that the remediation work is undertaken to ensure the building achieves its intended asset life.”
Mr Docherty said that as the works were being carried out under the original contactor’s warranty, there would be no cost to council – and ratepayers.
The works are expected to be completed by March, with public parking set to resume once completed.
“During this time holders of permanently-leased parking spaces are still able to use the ground floor of the car park,” Mr Docherty said.
“Council acknowledges this may cause disruption and we thank the community for their patience during this time.”
The six-level council-owned Windsor Carpark, on the corner of Main North Rd and Phillip Hwy, has been a contentious topic for northern suburbs residents since its construction in 2018.
The 2020 report tendered to the council that detailed the carpark’s revenue figures confirmed the carpark was meant to be built when the other buildings in the Elizabeth CBD project were completed – but the council instead voted to build it first.
The project includes the new Playford Sports Hub and ice arena set for development by property magnate Ross Pelligra slated for the opposite corner.
Planning documents revealed the 11,200sq m Playford Sports Hub is expected to include an indoor ice skating arena of more than 2000sq m, that could be used to host league games.
Alongside the ice will also be a rock-climbing facility, two indoor basketball courts and a two-level gymnasium.
There is also expected to be 236 car parks – 177 in the basement carpark – built to service the arena.
Other parts of the project, like a much-vaunted luxury hotel on site, medical centre and government office had been shelved prior to the car parks construction.
The Windsor car park was used to mark the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 with her face projected on the facades of the building, which caught the eye of a neighbouring councillor.
Salisbury deputy mayor Chad Buchanan posted to social media and said he was pleased to see the “big empty car park at Elizabeth” was being put to good use.
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