Carpark design to prevent crime

The opportunity has arrived to have a first look at the latest bid to develop a prime Sunshine Coast site.

An architectural drawing shows the design of a multi-level parking station and food outlet proposed to be built on the Brisbane Road carpark site at Mooloolaba.

THE latest bid to develop a prime Sunshine Coast site has progressed, with architectural drawings for a multi-level carpark and food outlets lodged with council.

Developer Evans Built applied this week to Sunshine Coast Regional Council to build on a 4900sq m section of the Brisbane Rd carpark site at Mooloolaba.

The block has been an open-air, ground-level carpark since the early 1990s, and the site of multiple failed bids to build above and below to accommodate more cars and a range of business and accommodation options.

Evans Built was in May announced the winner of an $18 million tender bid to build a 700-space carpark on the western half of the site.

The development application is for a building 26.1m above ground level with 706 car spaces and 54 motorcycle spaces as well as three food-and-drink outlets with outdoor dining.

An architectural drawing shows the design of a multi-level parking station and food outlet proposed to be built on the Brisbane Road carpark site at Mooloolaba.

Thirty-two ground-level car spaces are allocated to those eateries, with the remainder of the eight levels dedicated to the rest of the parking.

The application also includes a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Report, which is based on the simple premise that crimes against people and property are less likely to occur if other people are around.

The report is focused on surveillance, including a CCTV system and a design that allows clear lines of sight.

Other factors included clear signage, clearly defined public and private-use areas, and use of a specialist carpark company to manage the building.

“As this building is open to the public on a 24-hour basis the parking managers will have to maintain their surveillance after the passive surveillance has decreased, to ensure the facility is only used for its intended use,” the report read.

Council is working through an expressions-of-interest process for development on the other half of the site.

Cr John Connolly has previously stated he would like construction of the new carpark, on land that council owns, to start in November.

It is expected construction will take about a year.

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