Shopping Centre Carpark Line Marking: 650 Bays in Laverton North
The Challenge: Faded Lines, Compliance Issues, and Zero Downtime Available
A shopping centre manager in Laverton North called us three weeks before Christmas. Their carpark hadn't been touched in eight years, and it showed. Lines had faded to the point where drivers were creating their own parking spots. The accessible bays? Marked at 2.9 metres instead of the required 3.2 metres under AS/NZS 2890.6.
Here's what made this project tricky. The centre couldn't close during trading hours. Not even for a few hours. December is peak retail season, and every parking spot represents revenue. They needed the entire 650-bay carpark remarked without losing a single trading hour.
The previous contractor had quoted a three-week timeline with partial closures. That wasn't going to work.
We assessed the site on a Thursday afternoon, walking every level with the facilities manager. By Friday lunch, we'd sent a detailed proposal with a simple promise: two weekends, zero trading disruption, full AS/NZS 2890 compliance.
Our Approach: Weekend Nights, Two Crews, One Goal
We scheduled the work for Saturday 8pm to Monday 6am, two consecutive weekends. That gave us roughly 34 working hours per weekend. Tight, but doable with proper planning.
Surface Preparation
The existing thermoplastic was in rough shape. Some areas had built up layers from previous patch jobs (we counted four layers in one section near the entrance). We brought in grinding equipment to remove the worst areas and pressure washed the entire surface at 3,500 PSI. Sounds like overkill, but oil contamination from vehicles means paint won't stick properly. We learned that lesson years ago on a warehouse job that needed redoing at our cost.
Materials Selection
For a high-traffic shopping centre carpark in Melbourne's west, we recommended a combination approach: The main traffic lanes, pedestrian crossings, and accessible bays got Grade A thermoplastic. It handles the constant vehicle movement and Melbourne's summer heat without softening. Standard parking bays received waterborne line marking paint, which is cost-effective for lower-wear areas and dries faster (important when you're racing against Monday morning).
Compliance Requirements
Every bay had to meet AS/NZS 2890.1:2021 dimensions. The 12 accessible bays needed full AS/NZS 2890.6:2009 compliance, which meant: The bays had to be 3.2 metres wide minimum. Shared zones between paired bays needed 2.4 metres clearance. Each bay required a 1,000mm x 1,000mm International Symbol of Access. We also installed tactile ground surface indicators at pedestrian crossings per AS/NZS 1428.4.1.
The Weekend Shifts
Weekend one focused on Level 1 (ground floor) and the accessible parking areas. Our crew of six started at 8pm Saturday, working through the night under temporary lighting rigs. By Sunday evening, we'd completed 380 bays, all directional arrows, and the main pedestrian crossings. Weekend two tackled Level 2 and the rooftop parking. The rooftop section needed extra attention because sun exposure had completely bleached the old markings. We applied an additional coat to ensure visibility and longevity. Monday morning, 6am, both weekends: we had crews packing up equipment while the first shoppers arrived. Not a single trading minute lost.
The Results: Full Compliance, Zero Disruption, Happier Customers
The numbers tell the story: We marked 650 parking bays across two levels. All 12 accessible bays now meet AS/NZS 2890.6 requirements. We painted 4,200 linear metres of line markings in total. Fifteen pedestrian crossings received fresh markings with tactile indicators. And the centre didn't lose a single trading hour.
Three weeks after completion, the centre manager sent us a message. Parking complaints from customers had dropped noticeably. The security team reported fewer incidents of vehicles parked across multiple bays or in no-parking zones. Clear lines mean clear behaviour.
The council inspection happened in early November. Passed first time, no recommendations.
Results Highlights
Case Study FAQs
We scheduled all work for weekend nights, Saturday 8pm to Monday 6am. This gave us roughly 34 working hours per weekend. With two crews of six working simultaneously on different sections, we completed Level 1 the first weekend and Level 2 the second weekend. Monday morning, the carpark was ready for the first shoppers with no evidence we'd been there except fresh, crisp line markings.
High-traffic areas like main lanes, entrances, and accessible bays get constant vehicle movement and need Grade A thermoplastic. It's more durable and handles Melbourne's summer heat without softening. Standard parking bays see less wear, so waterborne paint is cost-effective and dries faster. This combination approach gives you durability where it matters and keeps costs reasonable overall.
The original bays were marked at 2.9 metres wide. AS/NZS 2890.6 requires a minimum of 3.2 metres for accessible bays. The shared zones between paired bays were also undersized. We reconfigured the layout to achieve full compliance, which meant adjusting adjacent standard bays slightly. Every accessible bay now meets the 3.2m minimum width with proper shared zones.
In a shopping centre environment with this traffic volume, you're looking at 4 to 6 years for the thermoplastic areas and 2 to 3 years for the waterborne paint sections. We recommend an annual inspection to catch any wear spots early. Touch-ups on high-wear areas are much cheaper than full remarking, and they keep you compliant year-round.
Yes. We've marked shopping centre carparks across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, from neighbourhood centres with 80 bays to major retail complexes with 2,000+ bays. Upload your site plans or give Niel a call on 0417 460 236 to discuss your project. We'll provide a fixed-price quote within 48 hours.
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