Maroondah Council might make staff and visitors pay for parking at new Ringwood Town Square offices

A council in Melbourne’s east is yet to finalise parking arrangements for its new offices — and staff and visitors could be forced to take public transport or use paid parking at a nearby shopping centre.

An artist's impression of Maroondah Council's new offices at Ringwood Town Square. — a bronze building between REALM and Sage Hotel. Picture: Supplied.

Staff and visitors to Maroondah Council’s new base could be forced to take public transport or fork out for paid parking.

Construction of the council’s new offices at Ringwood Town Square is set to begin shortly following site preparation works this month.

A construction shelter, footpath markings and giant white tree covers were seen underneath the site of the new offices on Maroondah Highway this week.

Maroondah Council is preparing to start construction of its new offices at Ringwood Town Square. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The offices will be an extension of the REALM library and an artist’s impression released in June showed a two-storey bronze building in between the library and Sage Hotel, one storey off the ground.

It will be built at no cost to ratepayers following a land swap deal between the council and Eastland’s owners Queensland Investment Corporation.

The new offices’ proximity to Ringwood train station and better public transport access was a major factor in the council’s decision to move.

However, the council’s communications team did not answer specific questions about how many spaces would be provided for staff and visitors or if they would be free or paid.

Mayor Rob Steane confirmed the council would encourage staff to use “sustainable transport” as an option for travelling to and from work.

“The move to REALM provides an opportunity for more staff to take up this option given REALM’s ideal location opposite the Ringwood railway station and bus interchange,” he said.

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Cr Steane said an area of on-site parking would be available “predominantly for council

vehicles” along with an off-site staff carpark nearby.

He told Maroondah Leader he believed about 90 spaces at Eastland would be set aside for council staff, and possibly visitors, but arrangements were yet to be finalised.

Cr Steane also said all-day parking would be available at the new 500-space multi-deck carpark to be built at Ringwood railway station.

Parking at Eastland is free for the first three hours with a maximum daily rate of $30.

Construction of the new offices is expected to be completed in May, with the council moving in shortly after. The council is yet to determine the future of its ageing offices in Ringwood’s Braeside Ave.

Eastland has been contacted for comment.

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