The ACT Government is improving suburban infrastructure across Canberra with design work for Brierly Street upgrades in Weston Creek to get underway based on local community feedback.
"Brierly Street is a step closer to significant upgrades with more than 350 people having shared their views on improvements including better seating, more outdoor dining opportunities, wider verges and improved green spaces," said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.
"Canberrans love their local shops and group centres because they provide important meeting places, are home to great local businesses and promote thriving communities.
"We know locals think of Brierly Street as Weston Creek's main street so we're looking at ways we can make the area more inviting, enjoyable for pedestrians and better for local businesses."
Key themes heard during feedback were:
- improved amenities along Brierly Street including better seating, wider verges, lighting and more greenery
- improved pedestrian safety with changes suggested for Brierly Street including wider verges, lower speed limits and safer crossing opportunities
- more opportunities for outdoor dining, including paving improvements to enable this.
"We know how important involving the community is when planning improvements to the local facilities people regularly visit. We will be considering this important feedback, along with the early input we received on the Weston Creek Group Centre Masterplan, for future upgrade ideas at Brierly Street," said Minister Steel.
Brierly Street is one of 11 local shopping and group centres the ACT Government has committed to upgrade over the next three years.
This investment is part of a larger $28.8 million program of new and upgraded suburban infrastructure across Canberra including:
- two new dog parks in Franklin and Lanyon Valley
- new toilet facilities at the Florey local shops and the Farrer nature play space
- upgrades to six play spaces in Kaleen, Ngunnawal, Chisholm, Gordon, Lyons and Aranda
- substantial public realm improvements at the Tuggeranong Foreshore, including a new playground.
The ACT Government has also recently released final designs for upgrades at the local shops of Campbell, Duffy and Kaleen's Gwydir Square, with construction expected to begin in early 2022.
"It's been a challenging two years for our community and many local business across Canberra. That's why we're moving ahead with as many local projects as possible, to support jobs and help bring more vibrancy to our community spaces as we recover from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Minister Steel.
