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Graham Street, "the concrete jungle". Beautification works are on hold until post-consultation consultation exclusively with traders.
By Catherine Watson
WE’VE been talking about the revitalisation of the Wonthaggi CBD since 2015. In that time we’ve seen a concept plan, an activity centre plan, a streetscape plan, an access and movement study, a traffic plan and a master plan.
Finally, after eight years of talk, councillors this week voted to adopt the Wonthaggi Activity Centre Streetscape Master Plan … with a proviso for more talk.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Cr Brett Tessari successfully pressed for a late amendment that means “beautification” works in Graham Street will not proceed until we’ve talked some more.
WE’VE been talking about the revitalisation of the Wonthaggi CBD since 2015. In that time we’ve seen a concept plan, an activity centre plan, a streetscape plan, an access and movement study, a traffic plan and a master plan.
Finally, after eight years of talk, councillors this week voted to adopt the Wonthaggi Activity Centre Streetscape Master Plan … with a proviso for more talk.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Cr Brett Tessari successfully pressed for a late amendment that means “beautification” works in Graham Street will not proceed until we’ve talked some more.
Cr Tessari said he was all for the beautification of Graham Street but was concerned about the loss of 39 parking spaces. “I’ve heard from the townspeople and shop people that that is a massive concern.”
The master plan, by urban designers Hansen Partnership and The Institute for Sensible Transport, is based on recreating “streets for people” rather than cars, activating the town centre, prioritising pedestrian access and “smart” city infrastructure.
At least that’s the theory but every time we get down to tin tacks, the cars win out, thanks to our outraged traders.
Plans for a dining and entertainment precinct in McBride Avenue mysteriously disappeared late last year following a round of post-consultation consultation exclusively with the Wonthaggi Business and Traders Association (WBTA). Now the same thing is about to happen in Graham Street.
The Sentinel Times this week reported complaints from the WBTA that the council had failed to consult the business community of Wonthaggi about parking spaces.
The master plan, by urban designers Hansen Partnership and The Institute for Sensible Transport, is based on recreating “streets for people” rather than cars, activating the town centre, prioritising pedestrian access and “smart” city infrastructure.
At least that’s the theory but every time we get down to tin tacks, the cars win out, thanks to our outraged traders.
Plans for a dining and entertainment precinct in McBride Avenue mysteriously disappeared late last year following a round of post-consultation consultation exclusively with the Wonthaggi Business and Traders Association (WBTA). Now the same thing is about to happen in Graham Street.
The Sentinel Times this week reported complaints from the WBTA that the council had failed to consult the business community of Wonthaggi about parking spaces.
Describing Cr Tessari’s 11th-hour amendment as a knee-jerk reaction to the criticism, Cr Leticia Laing said there had been ample opportunity for consultation via social media, through direct email to Wonthaggi traders, through discussions with the WBTA and three drop-in sessions at Apex Park.
“The beautification of Graham Street has been a key element to the activity centre plan.,” Cr Laing said.
“It’s not the Wonthaggi activity centre parking plan. It’s about encouraging people and pedestrian traffic to be able to navigate safely throughout the whole business district. More people going past shop windows means more pockets with wallets going into those shops.”
Cr Laing also pointed out that new angle parking spaces in Watt Street, a very short walk from Graham Street, meant there would be no net loss of car parking in the Wonthaggi CBD.
“The beautification of Graham Street has been a key element to the activity centre plan.,” Cr Laing said.
“It’s not the Wonthaggi activity centre parking plan. It’s about encouraging people and pedestrian traffic to be able to navigate safely throughout the whole business district. More people going past shop windows means more pockets with wallets going into those shops.”
Cr Laing also pointed out that new angle parking spaces in Watt Street, a very short walk from Graham Street, meant there would be no net loss of car parking in the Wonthaggi CBD.
The Wonthaggi Activity Centre Streetscape Master Plan covers the area bounded by Murray Street to the north, Watt Street to the south, Bass Highway/McKenzie Street to the east and Biggs Drive/Billson Street to the west.
It follows the following key obectives:
It follows the following key obectives:
- Re-create ‘Streets for people’
- Reinvigorate the character of Wonthaggi
- Activate centre of town and connect to the four ends
- Shift the transport mode hierarchy from vehicle first to pedestrian first
- Flexible design solutions to meet short-term and long-term goals
- Future proofing through innovative solutions and smart city infrastructure
Cr Tessari denied his late amendment was a kneejerk reaction. He said Wonthaggi people were used to parking where they wanted to go and it would take them a while to adjust to not being able to do that.
“Do we need to continue to take them along for the ride? I think so. That’s my motivation.
… This will be one of those scenarios that once we sit back and look at the amount of trees, the amount of spaces, we work forward with the community we can bring them along as well.”
“Do we need to continue to take them along for the ride? I think so. That’s my motivation.
… This will be one of those scenarios that once we sit back and look at the amount of trees, the amount of spaces, we work forward with the community we can bring them along as well.”
“I was all for the beautification of Graham Street. I remember years ago when we stood on the intersection of McBride and Graham and spoke about what was important. You had people walking past and we asked them as well. It was all about ‘You look down McBride and it looks beautiful with the trees. You look down Graham and it’s a concrete jungle.’ So I was all for that.
"Saying that, I can’t help bringing up the loss of all that parking in Graham Street.”
Cr Brett Tessari
Cr Tessari’s alternate motion to implement the plan in two stages, with Graham Street works deferred to the second stage, eventually passed six votes to one, with Cr Laing and the Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan, supporting it so as not to delay works further.
The council will now begin another round of post-consultation consultation - once again exclusively with traders.
Cr Whelan declined to comment other than to say “It was not council at its best”.
The council will now consider budget allocations in its long-term funding strategy as well as external grant funding options. Construction is expected to start in 2024.
The council will now begin another round of post-consultation consultation - once again exclusively with traders.
Cr Whelan declined to comment other than to say “It was not council at its best”.
The council will now consider budget allocations in its long-term funding strategy as well as external grant funding options. Construction is expected to start in 2024.
Call this a compromise?
Feb 18, 2023 - After years of community consultation and planning on McBride Avenue, the Wonthaggi Club takes all.
Feb 18, 2023 - After years of community consultation and planning on McBride Avenue, the Wonthaggi Club takes all.
Comments are closed.
remarked their vested interest would be biggest hassle.
Did Cr Tessari spend any time in the street? Consultants investigating changes at Thompson/ Settlement, for school kids and medical patients said most difficult thing would be getting Shire to understand that traffic is not spaced but arrives in convoys. By the time traffic travels ever more slowly down to Esplanade, confronted by no parking, no signage, on street dining and view, they stop.
Even when traffic is quiet, cars often hesitate, long enough for road rage delay, before proceeding. Consultants and community settled on one way traffic uphill but didn’t Cr Tessari get Council vote change to downhill? When it’s busy, traffic can bank up most of the way to Chapel St, all engines belching, even gaps between are too narrow for pedestrians to cross.
Can Council please review that uphill, there’s no hesitation, less likely convoy and transformation
Into street for people not cars? Please.