Hopes are high that the final decisions on the long-planned revamp of street lighting in Maitland Street will be made early this year following yet another community consultation.
Since the adoption of the CBD Masterplan by the Narrabri Shire Council the process of fine-tuning the actual plan has involved rounds of Council meetings, consultants’ reports, special reports and further community consultation.
The question of where new street lighting (and trees) should be located has generated more debate with the Council agreeing that a final community consultation is required.
The most favoured proposal at present would place lighting of an approved standard along with trees in a median strip down the centre of the main street.
It was reported to Council that the cost to fund this project is estimated to be approximately $1.2 million.
The Council’s acting director Planning and Development, Mr Tony Meppem, said yesterday that the question of new street lighting had undergone an exhaustive process of study but the issue of whether or not new lighting should be placed on footpaths or located in the centre strip had generated considerable further discussion.
The need for lighting – and trees – seems to be favoured by many in view of Narrabri’s hot summer conditions.
Mr Meppem stressed that the project options have been thoroughly investigated and costed for the Council.
He said a community consultation meeting would be held before the Council made its final decision.
He also said that other large country towns (some with streets less wide than Maitland Street) successfully implemented median strips containing both trees and urban standard lighting.
The accompanying photographs of the main streets in Casino and Goondiwindi illustrate what may be possible in Narrabri.
The potential million dollar main street makeover will enhance the township’s flourishing local economy with a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for both locals and tourists alike.
The process to develop a plan for the revamping of Narrabri’s CBD has been underway for the past three years.