Hawkesbury City Council is asking all community members to provide their thoughts and ideas to help shape the future of the Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor town centres.
Masterplans are being developed to help revitalise the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor for locals and visitors alike, while investigating new and improved uses which can be implemented across the whole of the Hawkesbury area.
Council has hosted stakeholder workshops this week to help inform the Masterplans.
Community pop up sessions will also be held on:
- Saturday, 1 February - 8am to 11am at Richmond Good Food Market, March Street, Richmond
- Saturday, 1 February - midday to 2.30pm at George Street, South Windsor next to the IGA
- Sunday, 2 February - 8am to 11am at Windsor Markets, George Street, Windsor
Council said planning for the future of the Hawkesbury Local Government Area needs to consider how the region is expected to grow and change over the next few decades. The Masterplans will recognise Windsor and Richmond as strategic hubs, supported by South Windsor, with a renewed focus on opportunities for:
- retail
- commercial
- tourism
- housing.
Easy access, active uses and community places will mean new and revitalised opportunities for the Hawkesbury region, the Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Barry Calvert said.
"We want a sense of place and community to shine through the final designs, and for implementation to create places that instil community pride, which is why we need your help," the Mayor said.
"We want to hear more about what you like, don't like and what you want to see improved or changed within Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor.
"You can leave some comments on the interactive maps of these towns at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au.
"You can also complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/revitalisingtowncentres to have your say."
The Revitalising Our Town Centres project aims to represent the desires of the future while respecting past heritage and history.
Council said the Town Centres Master Plan Working Group, including Councillor Danielle Wheeler, Councillor Emma-Jane Garrow, business owners and community representatives, is working to ensure through the project that the town centres of Windsor, Richmond and South Windsor become vibrant hubs.
"While the project will think big and plan for the future, it is also required to deliver practical on-the-ground town centre improvements within the allocated funding by 2022," the Mayor said.
"Placemaking aims to foster relationships and strengthen community ownership and pride. That's why your thoughts and ideas are so important to us.
"Community engagement was undertaken last year as part of the Placescore and Local Strategic Planning Statement processes.
"Now we want to dig deeper to understand specific community sentiment regarding the Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor town centres."
The Masterplan funding for the project is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three levels of government via the Western Sydney City Deal.
Hawkesbury City Council has commissioned Urbis Engagement to collect feedback. You can contact the Urbis team on 1800 244 863 or email engagement@urbis.com.au for more information.
Town Centres
Richmond Town Centre
The study for this Masterplan will focus on revitalising Windsor Street and will represent our desire to celebrate our heritage and history. The Masterplan study area is focused on four blocks bound by Bosworth, March, East Market and Francis Streets.
Windsor Town Centre
The Masterplan study area is focused along the Street Mall at George Street to provide new and exciting opportunities to revitalise businesses, strengthen tourism and improve the public space.
South Windsor Town Centre
The Masterplan study area is focused on revitalising George Street's shopping village area, from the railway track to Campbell Street, as well as its relationship to McLeod Park.
Community members can leave comments on the interactive maps of these towns at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au.
Complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/revitalisingtowncentres to have your say.