After three years of ground work, Hawkesbury Council's master plan to revitalise the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor has been given the official green light.
Both the Master Plan and Public Domain Plan for the Liveability Project, have received final approval, meaning its now all systems go.
A range of projects will begin in each of the centres, with the central aim of making them appealing destinations.
The brief is to make Richmond an "activated cultural destination", South Windsor an "updated contemporary town centre", and Windsor more focused on "river heritage, civic boulevards and vibrant people places".
The project had two key components, firstly, identifying a number of strategies to provide the framework to guide the change and revitalisation, and secondly, the public domain concept plan for a focus area in each centre.
The public plan included a vision, design features, guidelines and a maintenance plan.
The project was led by the Town Centres Master Plan Working Group, chaired by Councillor Danielle Wheeler.
It is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three tiers of government via the Western Sydney City Deal.
Keys aims of the project include:
- Reinforcing strengths of existing village identity, heritage and setting of key town centres;
- Fostering partnerships between the community, stakeholders and decision makers;
- Slower, safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists;
- Better access and wayfinding to key destinations and parking;
- Attractive town centres with high quality footpaths, furniture and landscaping;
- Benefit to local businesses with more pedestrian activity, placemaking and improved image to attract more residents, visitors and businesses;
- Greener Town Centres with improved park space with more amenity, more trees and shade, cooler streets and reduced carbon emissions;
- Healthy, inclusive community with more active transport, enhanced social environments, reduced obesity and improved mental health; and
- Work with business operators and owners to improve facades and shop fronts.
Councillor Wheeler, together with committee members, Councillor Emma-Jane Garrow, business owners and community representatives, worked together over 2017-2020 on the project.
"I especially want to thank everyone in our Working Group for their incredible dedication to this important project," said Cr Wheeler.
"To see this all become a reality is going to mean so much to our community members, including the local businesses on the ground and our wider business community, and of course to everyone who worked as volunteer members of the Working Group.
"Thank you to everyone involved, and we look forward to a great celebration when it is completed."
Council has approved the following list of projects for detailed design:
WINDSOR
- George Street - Green tree boulevarde, street furniture, integrate public art, cleaning of the town centre;
- Mall (South, between Fitzgerald and Kable Streets) Pedestrians Only - trees to be planted to align with the rest of George Street, create clear sightlines, high quality furniture and lighting, reintroduce car parking - potential one way traffic, create an adaptable space to allow the continuation of markets and events;
- Mall (North, between Kable and Baker Street) Pedestrians Only - extend tree planting to align with the rest of George Street, high quality pavement, street furniture and lighting; and
- Thompson Square - Outdoor dining upgrades, cleaning, tidying, sightlines improved, nicer space.
SOUTH WINDSOR
- George Street Streetscape - Green tree boulevarde, street trees linking South Windsor from McLeod Park to the train station, new seating with parklets - to allow places to occupy and sit; and
- Bereewan Park Upgrades - Staged plan for works with initial upgrade to include tree planting and formalisation of path network, investigation into community garden.
RICHMOND
- Windsor Street - Green tree boulevarde, new seating (parklets to provide opportunities for outdoor dining) and lighting; and
- Richmond Park - oval activation, New seating, pedestrian connectivity to town.
For more information about the Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor, visit www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/lptc.
