City of Ballarat councillors have approved concept designs for the redevelopment of one of the CBD's most maligned areas.
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Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the conceptual plans for the Bridge Mall redevelopment. The concept designs are not final, but will inform the detailed design, costing and tendering of the project.
The concept designs come after council allocated $15 million for the rejuvenation of the area in May 2019, adopted the Bakery Hill and Bridge Mall Urban Renewal Plan that October and adopted a preferred precinct plan for the area, which would open the mall up to eastbound traffic, in March 2021.
The concept plans, prepared by Melbourne architecture firm Hassell, show what Bridge Mall, Grenville Street and Coliseum Walk could look like once the redevelopment is completed and were informed by consultation with businesses, user groups and Traditional Owners groups.
The council officer's report said consultation revealed critical elements which must be reflected in the final designs, including representing the connection between the Wadawurrung people and country, connection to local waterways and the inclusion of play and discovery to encourage children and families to use the mall.
Under the concept plans, a redeveloped Bridge Mall would include shared vehicle cyclist access eastbound towards Victoria Street with pedestrian walkways either side and a 30-metre-long playspace along the southern side of the mall.
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The Sturt Street gardens would be extended along Grenville Street and connect the CBD with the Yarrowee River and Canadian Creek trails. Grenville Street would also include new pedestrian and shared paths.
The plans for Coliseum Walk include an 'arbour-styled' covering to encourage outdoor dining and trading.
Lighting of the entire precinct would also be improved with feature lighting highlighting the facades and laneways of the precinct.
Little Bridge Street would also see tree planting, landscaping works and improvements to the bus interchange.
South ward councillor Ben Taylor moved the recommendation to endorse the concept plans, which was seconded by south ward councillor Des Hudson.
Cr Taylor said areas he had seen in New Zealand proved the concept of a mall shared between pedestrians and traffic worked.
"I was actually quite surprised in some areas where you think you're walking down an area that's paved with tables and chairs along the side and next to them is a car, there's a bike, there's people and it actually worked. You could actually have all of those types of movements happening in one area at a slow speed and it works really well," he said.
"I don't know if anyone's been down there recently, but we can see the amount of for lease signs and what has happened is people are not utilising that space. Clearly, we know the space needs to be revitalised, it needs to be changed."
Cr Taylor equated the Bridge Mall project with council's attempts to revitalise Armstrong Street.
"Here's an opportunity for us, we've made a major investment in our budget to put into Bridge Mall and revitalise it... and this is the first step. It's not going to happen overnight, but council is in a position now to make it happen."
Cr Hudson said the Bridge Mall had been an issue for council for a long time and council's investment would spur private investment in the precinct.
"[Council was] open and honest with traders, getting a shared view that we needed to invest in the Bridge Mall if we were to expect change and expect investment from the private sector and to bring new business and new life into that precinct," he said.
"If we invest in the infrastructure, if we put good infrastructure in there, same as what happened in Armstrong Street, maybe some of those businesses will begin to come and someone will invest, but I guarantee through our investment... we will see other investment come in."
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