The 19^th century goods shed which has sat vacant for decades will play a key role in the $51 million Ballarat Station Precinct overhaul, with the structure to become a convention centre.

The finalised plans for the convention centre, hotel and car park have also been lodged with Planning Minister Richard Wynne.  

Community members have another opportunity to provide feedback to the government on the development in the coming fortnight, which will also see retail and hospitality venues built into the revamped shed. 

Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford said while planning for the precinct upgrade had taken a long time, the result would be a “remarkable transformation”.

Ms Pulford also assured commuters the redeveloped site would factor in disability access. 

“These are the final steps in what has been an extremely long process,”  Ms Pulford said.  “These bluestone sheds which have been closed for so long will be opened to the community and that’s an incredibly exciting thing, something the Ballarat community has talked about wanting to achieve for a long time.

“A big part of the government’s $25 million will go towards cleaning up this area that frankly right now is a mess.”

Contractors are currently on site at the goods shed to assess the presence of asbestos in the building, which will be one of the first priorities in the redevelopment. 

Works on the precinct are expected to begin in September, however construction on the goods shed is unlikely to begin until 2018.

The government has previously pledged to complete the multi-storey car park near Nolan Street before beginning construction on the remainder of the project, while the 2017/18 budget commitment of a $5 million internal bus interchange will also be high on the priority list.