Public space concepts get Council tick

AlburyCity has received $150,000 under Transport for NSW’s Places to Love program to work with the community on a project that explores how public spaces near active transport networks and public transport hubs can be used to help enhance local amenity, safety and livability.

Places to Love is a program that supports a variety of activations and initiatives and encourages communities to embrace and celebrate their unique local places.

Community consultation completed throughout May and June has informed the concept design. Results of the consultation, which included targeted discussions with businesses and different community groups, an online survey and on-site pop-up events, were also presented to Council this week.

A total of 102 people completed the online survey, and three email submissions were received. Results showed that 64% of respondents supported the project, with 35% opposing it, and 1% were neutral.

The survey also enabled respondents to vote for features to include in the space. Food trucks, greenery, entertainment, markets, seating and live music were all high on the wish list. Other popular suggestions were shade, shelter, large games, lighting and coffee.

Albury Mayor, Kylie King, said the Council is very supportive of the project and excited to see what it would bring to the Lavington CBD.

“It’s great to see the majority of respondents supporting this initiative, because we feel that it will bring many benefits to the community,” she said.

“It will provide something that the community feedback highlighted is currently missing from the Lavington CBD – a vibrant community space for people to gather, connect and relax.”

Residents can view the concept designs at Places to Love - Lavington | Have Your Say (nsw.gov.au)

The trial public space is scheduled to be in place for six months from October 2024 to March 2025.

The installation will be used to test innovative approaches to placemaking, and Council will seek community feedback over the course of the trial.

At the end of the trial, Council will assess the effectiveness of the project and what elements the community would like to retain, or have more of, in the future. These findings will also support the preparation of a case study report that will be published in the NSW Government’s Great Places Toolkit.

With the concept design endorsed, Council will officially notify businesses that the public space trial activation area will be closed to cars from 28 August, with installation works occurring over the following four weeks.

Vehicle access from Griffith Road to Hardware and Gogoll Lane will be retained with minor disruptions anticipated within the Griffith Road carpark area.

The project aims to enhance the vibrancy of the Lavington CBD and improve the amenity for walking and cycling connections.