WHITTLESEA’S main drag, Church Street, is set for a $3.7 million facelift but it will take years to complete.
An officer’s report presented at a recent council meeting stated the revamp would take place over three stages but only part of the first stage would be funded in the 2013-14 council budget.
“Funding to provide for completion of stage one and construction of stages two and three will be considered in future budgets,” the report stated.
It is likely the council would seek state and federal funding to help with costs.
The council has adopted a master plan to improve Church Street while retaining the rural character of the area including heritage buildings, wide open streets and maintaining views to the Kinglake Ranges and open paddocks.
The plan includes improving landscaping and seating around the war memorial and providing interpretative signs and plaques on heritage buildings.
Existing plane trees which form part of the Avenue of Honour for fallen Australian servicemen and women would be retained while other plants surrounding them would be replaced with less intrusive and hardier plants.There would also be planting in the median strip and in off-street parking areas.
Street “furniture” would be replaced with a consistent style of seats, benches, bicycle racks, drink fountains and litter and recycling bins, under the plan.
The plan includes improving paving and drainage, upgrading the Church Street reserve playground, revamping bus stops, improving street lighting, better parking facilities and a new public toilet near the intersection of Church and Lime streets.
The officer’s report stated two public consultations had shown residents and traders generally supported the plan which was the first since Church Street was renewed about 25 years ago.
