Q. What is the Singleton Streetscape Improvement Project?
The project is a proactive redevelopment of the Singleton Business District based on a concept plan commissioned by Singleton Council in 2007. The concept plan extends past the street and footpath improvement works undertaken over the past 7 years to make major changes to the overall Singleton CBD streetscape. The project is designed to attract and retain shoppers and tourists in the long term by ensuring that the CBD is vibrant with the whole community benefiting from increased social interaction. It also aims to encourage growth and sustainability of business activity within the area.
Q. What do the Streetscape Improvement works comprise?
The concept plan provides for the creation of a sequence of precincts that will be designed to achieve specific outcomes for particular areas of the CBD while
maintaining a consistency of streetscape design and facilitating connectivity between the precincts. The concept plan will establish an aesthetically pleasing environment with a ‘sense of place’ that has a distinctive character, a consistent design theme and integrates built form with hard and soft landscapes. The works will include improved paving, soft landscaping and street trees, lighting, street furniture, kerbing and will feature road narrowing in one precinct to allow al fresco dining.
Q. Where are the precincts?
There are six precincts. These are:
Station Precinct – where there is an outstanding opportunity for new residential,commercial and retail development.
John Street Southern End – which will be designed to integrate and connect with the new Gowrie Shopping Centre.
John Street Central Hub – this is proposed as an entertainment and dining precinct with reduced road width to allow al fresco dining.
John Street Northern End – which will continue to be a commercial precinct with a revitalised streetscape.
Northern Approach – which will feature embellishment of the parks and built form in this area.
New England Highway – which will be developed as the gateway into the main CBD
by providing a strong sense of arrival.
Q. How long will the works take?
The works as per the concept plan are scheduled to be completed over three years. However this is dependant on the scale of project finally decided on by Council. There are three priority areas identified in the concept plan. These are the works in the central hub to create the outdoor dining areas, the streetscape improvement works in Campbell Street to create a gateway into the CBD and the works in the Gowrie Street precinct to complement the redevelopment of the Gowrie Mall.
Q. Will there be any permanent road closures or a mall created?
There will be only one road closure as part of the project which will be Annes Lane. There will be a narrowing and raising of John Street in the central precinct to widen the footpaths and allow al fresco dining. Traffic will still proceed both ways through this area. John Street will not become a mall.
Q. How much parking will be lost as a result of the works?
There will be no net loss of parking in implementing the works. There will be a loss of on street parking in the area of John Street near Annes Lane and Pitt Street where the road is narrowed. It is expected that this will be more than compensated for by increased parking in Ryan Avenue in this precinct and by restructuring the layout of the public car park in William Street. Parking in other precincts will not be reduced and may be slightly expanded by the construction of blisters on some corners which will create additional parking spaces and improve pedestrian safety.
Q. How much is Council committed to spending on this project?
Council has only committed funds to develop the concept plan and undertake this
community consultation process. Following the consultation process a report will be submitted to Council in December 2008 which will summarise community feedback on the project. At that time Council will determine whether it will proceed with the project and if so what components of the project will be undertaken.
Q. What is the total cost of the project if all works were undertaken?
The total project cost is just over $8 million for all the works included in the concept plan. The consultants have recommended that a practical project that would achieve the aims of the concept plan could be implemented for $6.68 million. This is the cost on which financial projections and funding scenarios have been calculated.
Q. How will the project be funded?
The funding scenario for the $6.68 million practical project would have Council
allocating $2million from its accumulated funds to contribute to the capital cost of the project if it goes ahead. If the practical project was adopted by Council, the balance of the capital funding of $4.68 million would be sought from government grants, corporate sponsorship, development contributions and loan funding which would be repaid from increased rates over the life of the loan.
Q. If Council was unable to raise funds from external sources how much would my
If Council borrowed $4.68 million at 8.0% per annum over 15 years to fund the
project annual repayments would total $538,500. Repayment of this loan would
require a rate increase of 5.17% which would be paid by all categories of ratepayers. For an average general residential rate of $600 this would mean an additional $31 per year in rates.
Q. Why is Council so keen to undertake this project now?
The main driver is the Gowrie Mall development and in particular setting the standard for the entrance and its relationship to John Street. Council also needs to ensure the connectivity between the strip shopping section of John Street and the new development. In addition there is considerable activity likely to take place between the Central and Albion hotels and concepts need to be established for the streetscape in this area. Designing and putting in place the streetscape upgrade as an integrated exercise now will support future business development in Singleton. This will also lead to a reduction in the $90 million lost retail leakage from Singleton to other centres.