New parking pulls in to the centre

One hundred new car parks are on the way to central Geelong, City Hall has announced.
Work to build a car park in Gheringhap Street began this week after recent rain and flash flooding delayed the project’s start date, said councillor Lindsay Ellis.
The work included filling a former railway tunnel under Mercer Street and replacing an old brick drain, he said.
The car park off Gheringhap and Corio streets would services Geelong’s arts and cultural precinct
“Remediation activities kicked off last week and project works have started, which will last for a few months,” Cr Ellis said.
“Once the project is complete there will be approximately 100 new car park spaces… made up of a combination of permit and casual parking with provision for holders of disability permits.
“The car park will be ticketed for the casual bays at the same fee as on-street parking, $2.60 per hour.”
Cr Ellis said the tunnel, blocked off at its Geelong Police Station entrance, was formerly used to connect Geelong’s railway line to Cunningham Pier.
The tunnel had been abandoned for “some time”, he said.
The drain had also “outlived its useful life” when it serviced nearby railway yards and “about half of Geelong West”.
Cr Ellis was happy to see the work begin following last month’s flash-flooding.
“There was a bit of damage to the footpath in Gheringhap Street and council had had to carry out some repairs, which pushed back the commencement date.”
The project would include beautification of the site with additional trees, landscaping and pedestrian access, Cr Ellis said.
“As part of the tunnel-filling process, workers will be removing the old railway cutting, which follows the decommissioning and decontamination of a former petrol station at the site.”