Westpoint Blacktown carpark repairs expected until Christmas 2019

Work to repair sections of the Westpoint Blacktown carpark are expected to continue until Christmas 2019. Read here for an updated timeline on repair works.

Repair works continue at Blacktown Westpoint, with the bulk of the carpark to remain closed until mid-2019. The remaining sections are expected to reopen by Christmas.

Work on the carpark at Westpoint Blacktown is expected to continue throughout 2019, with the centre hoping to “substantially reopen” sections of parking by the middle of the year.

Repair work to address “structural issues” in sections of the original Westpoint carpark have been underway since the centre was forced to close off more than 2000 parking spaces in August 2018.

A firm reopening date has not been established, but centre manager Agata Rynkiewicz told the Advocate work was expected to be finalised before Christmas.

Carparking spaces remain blocked off on level one of Westpoint Blacktown.

“While timing for completion of the Westpoint car park works is subject to several

factors, we expect to substantially reopen the car park by mid-2019, which will see

the capacity of the car park exceed the maximum number of vehicles typically seen

during Westpoint’s busiest periods prior to the partial closure,” Ms Rynkiewicz said.

“The final remaining car parking spaces are also expected to be opened before Christmas.”

Concrete remediation works, installation of bracings, preparing columns for jacketing works and reinforcing footings continues have been in place since tests identified safety issues with carpark support pillars.

The issues affect the original Westpoint carpark, built more than 40 years ago.

Traffic controllers manage the flow of vehicles as repair work continues across more than half of Westpoint Blacktown’s carpark.

Traffic controllers will remain on site to manage traffic as the works progress, while offsite staff parking will continue to be made available at Blacktown Showground.

As repair work enters its ninth month, the Advocate spoke to retailer workers and customers, who said the situation had affected trade and shopping habits.

Shopper Jerry Floratos expressed his frustration at the reduced availability of parking.

“Sometimes traffic is bumper-to-bumper all the way down to Patrician Brothers’ (College),” Mr Floratos said.

“You have to leave early to find parking.

“Sometimes I just tell my boy to catch the bus home so I don’t have to go in and pick him up.”

Shoppers face a dead-end at one of the carpark entrances on level one of Westpoint Blacktown.

A retail worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said trade had fallen considerably.

“We’ve lost a lot of customers,” she said.

“With impulse buyers, the type of customer who goes past and wants to buy our goods after they go shopping, they’re unable to now because car parking is a disadvantage.

“They’re always saying that sooner or later they’re go elsewhere for their shopping.”