Mount Alexander Shire Council adopted a new Streetscape Landscape Design for Barker Street and Forest Street, Castlemaine, at last Tuesday night’s council meeting.
The plan could not be more timely with the recent completion and opening of the new Woolworths Supermarket at the gateway to Castlemaine and renewed calls for beautification works along Forest and Barker Streets to enhance the major thoroughfares in the CBD.
The Streetscape Landscape Design is a key priority of the Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards 2020, which recognises that the streetscapes of Barker Street and Forest Street should present as grand entrances through the commercial centre of Castlemaine.
When implemented, the Streetscape Landscape Design will contribute to an enhancement of the function and amenity of the Barker Street and Forest Street streetscapes.
The landscape implementation is anticipated to start this financial year. It is scheduled to be undertaken over three years and is subject to funding by way of future budget submissions and/or external grant funding opportunities.
The plan will see extensive landscape works undertaken on the median strips, streetscape works and potential plans to ‘uplight’ the facades of four buildings of note including the Castlemaine Post Office, Faulder Watson Hall, Castlemaine Library and Former State Savings Bank (Cantwell Property).
Cr Toby Heydon said it was an exciting project and would tie in beautifully with the works about to begin in Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane.
“We’ve all seen significant development along Forest Street, not just at the eastern end with the new supermarket development, but also between Hargraves Street and Barker Street as well,” he said.
“This is a very comprehensive plan. The main reason I am so enthusiastic is that it starts to address the amenity and appearance of that section of Forest Street between Urquhart and Hargraves Street now that we have the new supermarket.
“The first stage is set to commence on that particular section from Urquhart to Hargraves Street, the second stage from Hargraves to Barker Street and so on.
“The are extensive plans for hard landscaping, native and non-native elements are proposed. Some ideas are novel for Castlemaine but not new to other heritage towns such as the ‘uplighting’ of heritage building facades.
“I also note the engagement with Djaara and with Uncle Rick Nelson and the idea of installing a directional sign at the corner of Forest and Barker Streets to indicate the direction and distance to other local Aboriginal clans, which would be a real first for our town.
“We all know we live on Djaara country and the lands of people who live on who speak Dja Dja Wurrung, but very few of us are aware of the clan names of land they live on, this directional sign, possibly in a style similar the wonderful totem poles up at Boort, would be a really enlivening element to add to that corner,” Cr Heydon said.
“This plan goes a long way to better representing our beautiful built and natural environment in Castlemaine,” Cr Heydon said.
Cr Lucas Maddock said planting trees and plants was something that was always going to get him excited.
“I would be more excited if they were all natives, but I also get the challenge of finding suitable species for these situations,” he said.
Cr Maddock expressed some concerns about restricting pedestrians crossings and potentially creating new safety hazards with people attempting to cross heavily planted median strips.
However, Cr Heydon noted that such crossing points were not sanctioned or supported by DTP.
“I know council officers were interested in investigating at least one mid-block pedestrian crossing option on Forest Street so I am happy to support this,” Cr Maddock said.
