Over the next couple of weeks locals and visitors alike will see works taking place as Council begins Stage 1 of the Molong Main Street Activation Project.
With the project planning, costing, and testing complete, Council will begin stage one works on 15 April 2023. Stage one encompasses the upper block of Bank Street from Gidley Street to Shields Lane. This will enable Council to be able to give most accurate estimations of timing to the more intense business area in the "bottom block", with businesses and community advised as the project plan continues to develop, and prior to any scheduled road closures. Stage one is expected to be completed on 16 June 2023.
Work will also begin on removal and replacement of the Bank Street furniture with new seating, bins, planter pots, and bike racks to be completed by October ensuring that this is complete prior to the Christmas shopping period.
This "activation" of the Molong CBD has been years in the making, with the Molong community and Council working together to develop a collective vision.
Activating Bank Street to provide a better experience for all users, has been one of the key themes that has come from the community following the November flood event. Our community wants and deserves to have an attractive and inviting main street. Council recognises that this is key to supporting our businesses in their recovery.
In February 2020, the public exhibition of the Molong Town Centre Issues Paper was the first official step in realising the possibilities and opportunities of the Molong town centre through an urban renewal approach.
The community's feedback from the exhibition and in subsequent design workshops with the community helped to design meaningful and beneficial improvements as part of the development of the Molong Town Centre Plan.
In the months that followed there were a series of community consultations and concept design consultations where the Main Street Concept Design was placed on public exhibition.
From there, the Molong Main Street Activation Project was born.
In late 2021, Council was successful in receiving $2.18m in grant funding to deliver the project from the NSW Government's Resources for Regions Program, and through the Federal Government's Building Better Regions Fund. This project is 100 percent funding through the grant funding.
As part of the grant application, Council was required to provide a sound business case for
assessment, evidence of community and business support, and an outline of the complete scope of works and costs proposed. The Grant funding was successful based on this information – including the street trees – and Council has already provided regular reports to both the State and Federal Governments as the funding has been accessed in preparation for the project delivery.
As well as creating a first-class public space for people to live, work, shop and visit; a primary goal of the Molong Town Centre Activation project is to repair damaged infrastructure, replace trees to provide a functional and aesthetically pleasing town centre, and to improve road safety and access for pedestrians.
The cost benefit analysis conducted as part of the Project, identified a series of direct and incremental benefits that the project will deliver including increased tourism, economic activity generated through quality urban design, increased permanent residents to the Molong, simulating local property investment, creating a dominant focal point and green space where people are naturally drawn to, encouraging movement, walkability and accessibility, and improving wayfinding throughout Molong.
It is impossible to do any main street upgrade or CBD activation without disruption, however Council has developed a project plan to minimise disruption to businesses, pedestrians, and traffic that will ensure footpaths always remain open, and therefore access to all businesses will be maintained.
During construction, it is planned that half a block of the main street will have one lane of the traffic closed at any one time under traffic control measures. There will be alternate routes available to through traffic.
Delivery vehicles will also continue to be able to access Bank Street with vehicles able to park either in the 45-degree angled parking, or between tree plantings in the street centre.
Council is committed to continuing communications as the project progresses through construction – particularly for local businesses. Information on the project is also available on Council's website at www.cabonne.nsw.gov.au/Major-Projects
Recovery following the November flooding event will take time, but the commencement of the Molong Main Street Activation Project is the first step in building something great for the future of Molong - a future that will improve social ties, encourage tourism and investment, and create an appealing focal point for Molong.
