The Russell Street Streetscape Refresh Project has been recognised at the Minister's Award for Urban Design, receiving a commendation in the 2023 Movement and Place Award category.
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) Planning and Development Committee Chair Cr Megan O'Hara Sullivan was pleased to see Council recognised in this fashion and said delivery of the project was a key outcome of the Toowoomba City Centre Master Plan.
"This was a project to revitalise one of Toowoomba's oldest and most iconic streets," she said.
"Reinvigorating Russell Street as a social, cultural and economic hub for the whole community is a major focus for Council.
"As part of the project there was a vision to complete the missing east-west green link along Russell Street, that promotes active and passive walking and cycling. The backdrop of the historic buildings within the city centre also provided the unique canvas for transforming the street into a vibrant people friendly destination with extensive landscaping and public art."
In presenting the award, Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement, the Hon. Mick de Brenni MP, spoke about how he had visited Toowoomba to see the end result first-hand and was impressed with the final product.
TRC Infrastructure Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor said the extensive three-year consultation process with local businesses was considered to be a great example of community engagement.
"Council is extremely proud of what's been achieved in Russell Street," Cr Taylor said.
"Our goal was to give the community an active role in the design process to deliver a design that reflected the current and future needs of the community and Council.
"The project has been designed to act as a catalyst for creating connected activated spaces across the inner city, and to change road user behaviour, particularly vehicle speed, essential for placemaking.
"Council has constructed new road pavement and footpaths, a tree-lined centre median between Victoria and Ruthven streets, pedestrian crossing points, entry and exit thresholds, lighting and CCTV, green spaces, street furniture and public art, including Indigenous art which reflects the importance of the historic waterway to both First Nations people and European settlement."
Toowoomba Regional Council would also like to thank and acknowledge the work completed by lead consultants JW Concepts for being the principal design consultant and landscape design, Harrison Infrastructure Group for civil design and Artfully for the artwork coordination.
