Windsor RSL and Council launch joint project to revitalise Windsor, South Windsor shops

A ‘specialist practitioner’ will be employed to work with Council and landowners to boost the economy along the commercial strips in Windsor and South Windsor.

The project has four key performance indicators: reduce shop vacancies, increase commercial opportunities, increase employment, and increase tourism.

Hawkesbury Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett said the practitioner will work with Council and the broader community.

“Thanks to a $200,000 grant from Windsor RSL, there will be a new program and a position to activate investment into the local community,” she said.

“This will provide additional employment and tourism which will offer long term benefits to our local community.”

The initiative aims to build upon the historical strengths of the area, and engage the community to get creative and spruik local produce.

“We are aware of the talent and capability that already exists in our local community, and we’ll be harnessing that creativity for even more opportunities,” she said.

Current commercial conditions have seen retail and commercial businesses struggling to keep their doors open.

“Council is aware that both the Windsor and South Windsor ‘High Streets’ have struggled to find their position in the new order of things, with online shopping and larger outlets drawing business to other areas,” the Mayor said.

“Other Centres in Australia have experienced similar challenges, both old and new, in New South Wales and across Australia, for example Newcastle, Leichhardt, Eurobodalla, Melbourne’s Docklands and Shepparton in Victoria.”

A Town Centres Masterplan Project Group, which consists of Councillor Danielle Wheeler as Chair and six community representatives, has been formed as part of the Revitalisation Program.

The Project Group is assisting Council with the creation of Master Plans for a number of Town Centres within the Hawkesbury LGA.

For information about the new project, call Council’s Placemaking Coordinator, Charles Liggett on 4560 4527.