Renewal 88 Wallace Street and Braidwood Carpark

Project typeCapital Works
Project value$5.225 million
Project scheduleTo be completed by April 2027

We are planning to redevelop 88 Wallace St and some of the Council Depot site to deliver a new car park and a pedestrian link to Wallace St, along with an integrated community space. It would provide greater car parking options for locals and tourists as well as provide some additional community space. These projects are part of a long-term plan to relocate the Depot and convert the rest of the site into more car parking and new housing blocks.

The works are funded with $3m under the Australian Government’s Investing in our Communities Program, $1.4m under the NSW Regional Housing Fund and $825,000 from Council Section 94 Contributions.

The project includes:

Decontamination and renewal of the 88 Wallace Street site (noting its previous use as a service station and workshop)
Construction of a car park (approximately 21 car spaces) on part of 88 Wallace St and part of Council’s existing operations depot.
Retaining access off Duncan Street to the north through the laneway
Pedestrian access from Wallace Street through the old D&S Motors site
Maintaining access to the rear of the shops and National Theatre on the laneway
Public toilets and disabled parking
New water, sewage, and stormwater infrastructure
Smart infrastructure such as CCTV, smart lighting, solar panels, EV charging infrastructure, and power for events
Addressing any heritage requirements including repurposing materials with a view to pay tribute to the historical use of the site.
The workshop building inspired by the historical blacksmith, is proposed to be constructed during Stage 2

What's happened so far

An artist's sketch and carpark concept design were previously prepared. We received feedback from the community on the proposal.
A planning proposal has been approved to change the zoning to permit the construction of the car park on the site.
A Detailed Site Investigation has been completed to determine the extent of contamination, and the outcomes have been used to inform the preparation of the Remediation Action Plan.
An Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment and Braidwood Heritage Assessment have been completed.
The Remediation Action Plan has been approved by an EPA Site Auditor and we have been issued an Interim Audit Advice Letter endorsing the proposed remediation works.
The Development Application for demolition and remediation works has been approved.
Unicivil (NSW) Pty Ltd began the demolition and remediation works on 31 August 2026.
Lanterra Consulting Pty Ltd has been engaged as the Principal Environmental Consultant (EC) for the project. The consultant will undertake data gap investigations, validation testing and reporting in accordance with the approved Remediation Action Plan (RAP).
Unicivil has completed the dismantling if the building and salvaged reusable materials for reuse in construction.
During demolition, the floorboards of the D&S Motor building were found to contain lead, zinc and copper contamination. However, leachate testing confirmed that the material is within the permissible limits for classification as General Solid Waste (non-putrescible). Council will not reuse the floorboards, and they will be disposed of at a licensed waste facility.
The underground petroleum tanks have been removed, with soil samples collected by the environmental consultant for testing.
A new groundwater monitoring well near the former petroleum tank has been installed and samples have been collected to determine the extent of contamination.
We have reviewed the feedback from the focus group on the architectural and landscape drawings and provided recommendations and clarifications at a meeting on 21 September 2026.

What's next

Following receipt of the soil testing results, the contractor will commence soil remediation works. These excavations will be undertaken under archaeological supervision.
Upon completion of the demolition and remediation works, archaeological test excavations will be carried out in the south-western corner of the site, where relics associated with James Larmer are potentially present. These works will be undertaken following the receipt of the required Section 60 approval and expected to take up further space behind the depot.
Based on the outcomes of the focus group consultation, the agreed design changes are currently being incorporated into the architectural and landscape documentation by Spiire Australia Pty Ltd. We are planning to submit the Development Application (DA) for the construction work in mid-October 2026.
We are planning to engage a heritage consultant to undertake archaeological investigation works within the south-western portion of the project area (the rear section of the D&S Motor building), in accordance with the approved Historic Heritage Assessment Report.
Following the completion of the demolition and remediation works, the appointed heritage consultant will undertake the archaeological investigation to identify, assess and manage any potential heritage relics within the investigation area.

Below are drafted drawings for the car park and renewal of the D&S Motors site - more detailed drawings will be added as they are developed.