Council has allocated $7.5m in funding for our main street revitalisation projects. This is around $1.5m for each ward.
Last year, businesses and the community were invited to pitch ideas to make their main street more attractive, with 73 ideas submitted.
Ideas have been categorised into five broad project areas.
Learn more about these projects below:
All weather outdoor dining coverage
All weather outdoor dining coverage will enhance the customer dining experience.
Footpath plaques
Heritage Pub Trail plaques
Heritage Pub Trail Plaques at Balmain & Rozelle have been installed. The plaques include a QR Code that takes people to a map of all the heritage pubs trail guide.
This project invites people to rediscover our heritage pub scheme. See examples below:
Merton Hotel footpath plaque
Dry Dock Hotel footpath plaque
Three Weeds Hotel footpath plaque
Enmore Road plaques
In August we unveiled the first in a series of footpath plaques on the Enmore Road Walk of Fame.
The plaque commemorates the Bangarra Dance Theatre who launched their first National tour from the Enmore Theatre in 1994.
The remaining plaques are up to you! We’ll be opening voting soon on who you think deserves to be commemorated on the Walk of Fame.
Mini plazas - street furniture and pot plants
New 'mini plazas' populated with inviting street furniture and plants will provide a place for people to enjoy the main streets with friends.
Recently the team met with one local business in Hercules Street Ashfield to share project design plans.
These table settings are an example of what will be installed. They are designed to offer a place to relax and enjoy something to eat while socialising. The design will be wheelchair friendly.
This new bar seating will provide pause points for coffee and people watching.
Curved seating will add interest to an area.
Verge greening
Staff have been busy working on new verge greening with 10 sites now completed. See example before and after photos below.
Over the coming months these plants will mature and uplift our streetscapes.
Before and after: Cnr New Canterbury Rd and Herbert St
Before and after: Cnr Marrickville Rd and Wardell Rd
Verge greening will include in-ground planting along the footpath and pots and planters to add a pop of interest to an area. The plants selected are drought tolerant but also look aesthetically pleasing.
This statement piece pot and seat will be a real showstopper. It will include a tree to provide shade.
Custom planter boxes and seating decorated with Aboriginal artwork will be another statement piece used to enhance main street areas.
We're just getting started!
Council is working on a range of detailed designs that will enhance our main streets, contributing to a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike.
Check back soon for further updates as these exciting projects take shape!
If you have any questions about this program, please contact economicdevelopmentteam@innerwest.nsw.gov.au
Learn more about how the program was developed on Council's Your Say website.