Millicent town plan endorsed

PLAN ENDORSED: Wattle Range Council has endorsed the Millicent Town Centre Concept plan. Picture: WAX DESIGN

By Raquel Mustillo

AN open air plaza in Millicent’s main street, transforming Eudunda Lane from a throughfare to an active space and public art on McLaughlin Way are one step closer after Wattle Range council elected members voted to endorse the town plan.

At Tuesday night’s council meeting, elected members heard a majority of respondents to council’s draft concept design survey either strongly or moderately agreed with the direction and intent of the draft concept plan.

According to council, the plan aims to centre Millicent as a magnet for residents, day-trippers and visitors and serve as a gateway to exploring the broader Limestone Coast.

High priority items – to be undertaken within the next two years – include public art, a pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Stuckey and Davenport streets and weather shelters to support outdoor dining opportunities.

Long-term items include the potential redevelopment of Australia Post land to create a central town park, with an opportunity for play space, improved public toilet facilities and shade tree planting.

Council will now undertake further detailed engineering plans, with $55,000 allocated in the 2021/22 budget to progress both the Penola and Millicent Town Centre concepts.

The initial plans for both towns – designed by Wax Design at a cost of $60,000 – include full scale murals on blank walls in Millicent, sculptures, pedestrian crossings, car parking and landscaping.

Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower said the next stage will include costing particular elements of the plan and advanced designs.

“This is basically a high-level architect view and the next stage is to get the plan to the point where we can contract it out,” he said.

“Things like the protuberances, realigning roads and footpaths have to be costed and designed, which will get it to the stage where we can contract it out.

“Next year’s budget we will start going for grants one at time to do particular parts of the plan.”