Nearly half a kilometre of footpath through one of Townsville's busiest shopping and dining precincts has been upgraded, with the new look walkways near The Strand arriving as an early Christmas gift for the city.
Delivery of the Mitchell, Gregory and Eyre Street Pathway and Watermain Upgrade, proudly funded by the Queensland Government's Works for Queensland program in association with Townsville City Council, has come at the perfect time with the precinct buzzing as the festive season enters full swing.
Grandma's Café Restaurant manager Avi Cohen said he was delighted with the works, which had greatly improved the safety and amenity of the precinct.
"The result is so beautiful, and we really appreciate it – it has improved the look so much and not only that, the pathways are much safer now as well," Mr Cohen said.
"I was very surprised by how far the crews and the Council went to do the right thing in terms of not disrupting the businesses – they moved to night shift and did the project in stages, which helped so much.
"They did 100 per cent to minimise the disruption and that was greatly appreciated."
Divisional councillor Ann-Maree Greaney commended the contractor and local businesses for working seamlessly together to minimise disruption to trade and foot traffic as much as possible.
"This $2.4 million upgrade is an incredible investment into North Ward, benefitting both businesses and patrons," Cr Greaney said.
"This precinct, famous for its delicious dining options and one-of-a-kind retail stores, is truly a jewel in Townsville's crown that is loved by locals and tourists alike.
"Not only have we ensured the upgrades make the area more visually appealing, we have also prioritised safety and accessibility by delivering concrete treatment around the entire village and reducing the long-standing issues with sinking pavers."
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto acknowledged the Queensland Government's significant contribution to the project, providing $1.85 million through the Works for Queensland Program.
"This was a big project that will go a long way to beautify and enhance the liveability of a very much-loved area of Townsville," Cr Dametto said.
"I'm passionate about maintaining and improving the amenity of The Strand, and surrounding areas, wherever possible and am very pleased to see these works completed just in time to be enjoyed by patrons throughout the busy Christmas period."
Member for Townsville Adam Baillie MP said he was proud to be a part of the Queensland Government's support of Council's investment into the amenity the popular North Ward precinct.
"This project has improved the safety and accessibility of a popular shopping and dining precinct, and it is great to see it wrapped up for Christmas," Mr Baillie said.
