Mooroolbark has experienced a significant transformation over the past few years with unprecedented investment driven by the Mooroolbark Station Precinct and Multideck Carpark projects funded through the State Government.
Works are now completed and the temporary car park on the corner of Charles and Station Street land is only used by a small number of cars.
Because this space is now underutilised, it is an opportune time to reclaim it as public open space.
In considering how to best utilise this Council owned, gravel carpark, it was decided that with more detailed planning already scheduled for 2024-2028, in the meantime it would be an opportunity to consider a temporary “pop-up” activation and usage.
The broader consultation and development of plans for Mooroolbarks future development will look across the whole of the town’s activity centre for options and opportunities to support future needs.
In November 2022, an occupancy survey of the site confirmed that the space was no longer required for parking, with ample parking available across the centre, including at the newly developed Mooroolbark Railway Station.
To progress this opportunity for a pop-up community space, preliminary consultation was undertaken with local trader, community, senior and education groups as well as representatives of local organisations in late 2022 and early 2023.
This engagement asked the question; “How could the old gravel carpark on Station Street, Mooroolbark be activated for broader public use?”
This consultation supplied a range of possible interim and temporary opportunities to activate this site prior to the broader consultation in coming years.