WATTLE Range Council will unveil an ambitious master plan to transform the Penola main street this month, with residents encouraged to help shape the town’s redevelopment.
Council has engaged Adelaide-based WAX Design – which has undertaken similar projects in Victor Harbour, Willunga and Adelaide’s western suburbs – to develop the plan and placemaking strategy of Church Street.
The project aims to enhance and protect the unique character of the town’s main street and encourage increased activation, storytelling and cultural representation.
Two drop-in design sessions will be held at the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre on March 18 and 19.
Council chief executive Ben Gower said community members can submit their ideas and participate in the design process.
“We ran a competitive tender process and Wax Design were selected as the preferred supplier,” Mr Gower said.
“The engagement of Wax Design and the development of a main street master plan was done in recognition that some community members are concerned about the impact of the bypass on trading and tourism,” Mr Gower said.
The design sessions follow a town meeting held last year to discuss ideas for the future of Penola, with a community hub, wetland walking trail and an avenue of trees linking the bypass to Penola floated by attendees.
Around 40 people attended the meeting – which was also used to update Penola’s 10-year town plan – and focused heavily on improving livability, boosting tourism and using the bypass as an advantage.
Other ideas discussed included a bike path along the bypass, further signage around the town to direct visitors and more accessibility and parking for caravans close to the Mary MacKillop Memorial Centre and the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre.
Mr Gower said on its completion, the master plan will be used to help with grant applications and inform future budget deliberations around potential infrastructure investment.
The design sessions will be held on March 18 from 3pm and March 19 from 11am.
A follow-up session will be held at noon on March 20, where consultants will present what they heard from the community.
