Wallan Town Heart

Consultation has concluded

The $4.1 million Wallan Town Heart project will transform the centre of Wallan into a more connected and vibrant community hub.

It is hoped the project will reinvigorate the precinct by developing better connections between the existing shops and Hadfield Park, making it safer for cars and pedestrians, improving roads and car parking, and beautifying the area to make it a more inviting place to visit.

The project includes:

  • A new town square on High Street
  • A signalised pedestrian crossing linking the shops and Hadfield Park
  • Improvements to the outdoor area and car parking near the Free Library Public Hall and the addition of a Circle of Remembrance to the War Memorial (which will stay in its current location).
  • 25 New car parks near the Community Bank® Adventure Playground
  • Footpath, parking and road improvements to Wellington Street
  • Safety improvements to the service road entry at Watson Street
  • Landscaping along the Northern Highway and the main street including the return of 53 trees to the Avenue of Honour.
  • Lighting and landscaping on Queen Street.

Funding partners

The project is funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($400,000), the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($2.19 million) and Regional Development Victoria ($1.5 million).

Previous consultation

We asked the community for input on the preliminary plans in September. That input was considered and a few changes have been made to the final designs.

The project comes following significant consultation on the Wallan Structure Plan and the Wallan Town Centre Masterplan and Urban Design Framework. There was a clear interest from the community in improving the retail area and strengthening links to the Hadfield Park area.

The $4.1 million Wallan Town Heart project will transform the centre of Wallan into a more connected and vibrant community hub.

It is hoped the project will reinvigorate the precinct by developing better connections between the existing shops and Hadfield Park, making it safer for cars and pedestrians, improving roads and car parking, and beautifying the area to make it a more inviting place to visit.

The project includes:

  • A new town square on High Street
  • A signalised pedestrian crossing linking the shops and Hadfield Park
  • Improvements to the outdoor area and car parking near the Free Library Public Hall and the addition of a Circle of Remembrance to the War Memorial (which will stay in its current location).
  • 25 New car parks near the Community Bank® Adventure Playground
  • Footpath, parking and road improvements to Wellington Street
  • Safety improvements to the service road entry at Watson Street
  • Landscaping along the Northern Highway and the main street including the return of 53 trees to the Avenue of Honour.
  • Lighting and landscaping on Queen Street.

Funding partners

The project is funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($400,000), the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($2.19 million) and Regional Development Victoria ($1.5 million).

Previous consultation

We asked the community for input on the preliminary plans in September. That input was considered and a few changes have been made to the final designs.

The project comes following significant consultation on the Wallan Structure Plan and the Wallan Town Centre Masterplan and Urban Design Framework. There was a clear interest from the community in improving the retail area and strengthening links to the Hadfield Park area.

Consultation has concluded

  • Wallan Town Heart is taking shape

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    The $4.1 million Wallan Town Heart project is coming along well with a number of elements completed or almost complete.

    Changes to the service road near the plaza and 25 additional car parks in Bentinck Street near the Community Bank® Adventure Playground have now been complete.

    Works around the Free Library and War Memorial area are also nearly complete, with the new cenotaph area and flagpoles finished in time for ANZAC Day and the Circle of Remembrance coming along well with bluestone paving and lighting expected to be installed shortly.

    Works on the new town square will begin soon including paving, seating, landscaping and lighting, with works on the new signalised pedestrian crossing expected to start over the next month.

    As work continues on the Wallan Town Heart Project, it's important to remember that all traders are open for business, with pedestrian access to the shops on-going throughout the project.

    Find out more about the progress HERE

  • Full steam ahead on Wallan Town Heart revitalisation

    Exciting improvements in the heart of Wallan are just around the corner.

    The $4.1 million Wallan Town Heart revitalisation has reached a major milestone, with Evergreen Civil to begin works in and around the Free Library Public Hall this month.

    As part of the wider project, an upgrade of the existing car park in Bentinck Street will see approximately 25 new car parks created near the Community Bank® Adventure Playground.

    The first stage of works are expected to take four to six weeks to complete.

    Other works, including a new outdoor plaza, new pedestrian crossing, new car parks, landscaping, and traffic improvements to the High Street service road entry and Wellington Street, will also begin soon.

    The Wallan Town Heart revitalisation was jointly funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($400,000), Regional Development Victoria ($1.5 million) and the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($2.19 million) through the work of Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes and Member for Yan Yean
    Danielle Green.

    Plans were presented to the community in September last year, with an extensive community consultation period following.

    Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said after a slight delay in starting construction late last year, it was exciting to see the project about to begin.

    “This project has been a long time in the making – the original idea for these works came out of the Wallan Structure Plan in 2015,” Cr Sanderson said.

    “The community played a key role in developing this project, and with their input and feedback, we’re about to deliver a positive change in the heart of Wallan.

    “The project will not only create new public spaces, it will create local jobs, connect communities and give people an extra reason to be proud of where they live.

    “Wallan is experiencing large amounts of growth and is clearly a very desirable place for people to live. This project will enhance the appearance of the town centre of Wallan and will truly unlock its potential.”

    Cr Sanderson thanked the Victorian Government for their significant investment in Wallan.

    “Forming partnerships is key for a major project like this and none of this would be possible without the considerable investment from the Victorian Government,” Cr Sanderson said.

    The project is expected to be completed by mid-2018.

  • Works start on Wallan's $4.1 million town heart

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    The first stage of the $4.1 million Wallan Town Heart revitalisation will begin next week.

    The revitalisation includes a new outdoor plaza, forecourt improvements near the War Memorial, a new pedestrian crossing, new car parks, landscaping and traffic improvements to the High Street service road entry and Wellington Street.

    In the first stage of works, car park and vehicle access improvements will be made near the Free Library Public Hall. There will also be 25 new car parks created near the Community Bank® Adventure Playground in Bentinck Street.

    Plans have also been finalised for other parts of the revitalisation with some changes made following community consultation in September.

    • The War Memorial will stay in its current location, with the addition of a Circle of Remembrance.

    • Proposed garden beds outside the Free Library Public Hall have been removed for better pedestrian access. The picket fence has been removed outside the hall.

    • The High Street service lane entry near the pedestrian crossing has been moved further south to improve traffic flow.

    Mitchell Shire Deputy Mayor David Lowe said it was exciting to see the start of the project after many years of planning.

    “This project is not just about creating new public spaces – it’s about creating local jobs, connecting communities and giving people an extra reason to be proud of where they live,” Cr Lowe said.

    “We’re currently preparing for our population to reach 210,000, with much of that in Wallan and to our south. We’re already seeing Wallan change as a result of this growth and we’ve seen how important it is to have good community facilities to bring people together.

    “Wallan has a very bright future ahead and the start of the Wallan Town Heart project is a key part of unlocking its potential.”

    Cr Lowe also thanked the Victorian Government for their investment and the Mitchell community for their input in to this project over the last few years.

    “The original idea for these works came out of the Wallan Structure Plan back in 2015, with various opportunities for input since then including the recent preliminary designs which were released in September,” Cr Lowe said.

    “The community has been very generous with their ideas and their time. I look forward to seeing this transformation of Wallan’s town heart take shape.

    “None of this would be possible without the considerable investment from the Victorian Government through the Growing Suburbs Fund and Regional Development Victoria.

    “These partnerships and funding streams are vital to support our growing community, to support the creation of local job opportunities, and to improve the liveability of our shire.”


  • Community Workshop on Thursday 21 September

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Want to take part in an interactive workshop where we can show you how it all fits together and you can share your ideas on how we can make it even better?

    7-8.30pm, Wallan Multi-Purpose Community Centre, Thursday 21 September.

  • Media release - Share the love

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
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    Share the love by having your say on the Wallan Town Heart project

    The heart of Wallan will soon be revitalised, but before work begins Mitchell Shire Council wants to hear your thoughts on what’s planned.

    The $4.09 million Wallan Town Heart project will transform the centre of Wallan into a more connected and vibrant community hub.

    It is hoped the project will reinvigorate the precinct by developing better connections between the existing shops and Hadfield Park, making it safer for cars and pedestrians, improving roads and car parking, and beautifying the area to make it a more inviting place to visit.

    To do this, seven key steps are planned as part of the project:

    · A new outdoor plaza

    · A signalised pedestrian crossing linking the shops and Hadfield Park

    · A new event space and car parking near the Free Library Hall to make better use of the War Memorial area

    · New car parks near the Community Bank® Adventure Playground

    · Footpath, parking and road improvements to Wellington Street

    · Safety improvements to the service road entry at Watson Street

    · Landscaping along the Northern Highway

    The project, funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($400,000), Regional Development Victoria ($1.5 million) and the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($2.19 million), is expected to begin in November 2017 and be completed by May 2018.

    Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said it was an exciting project that highlighted the benefits of forward planning and advocacy.

    “The Wallan Town Heart project is going to be a breath of fresh air for Wallan and we hope it will transform the area into a thriving hub that will be a fantastic place to gather, shop or work,” Cr Sanderson said.

    “Major projects like this are not possible to achieve alone. By forward planning with things such as the Wallan Structure Plan, Council was able to work with the community and identify these opportunities, and then actively pursue funding to make them a reality.

    “This level of investment will be a major boost for our growing community. Not only will it give the heart of Wallan a real identity and community feel, it will hopefully attract new businesses to the area, which will benefit not only the residents of today, but the residents of tomorrow.”

    Cr Sanderson encouraged community members and businesses to view the plans and let Council know of anything they’d like to see included or changed.

    “We really value the input of our community and we’d love as many people as possible to take a look at the plans and let us know their thoughts.”

    There are plenty of ways the community can get involved in the project, including by attending a Community Workshop at the Wallan Multi-Purpose Community Centre Youth Room (Bentinck Street) from 7pm-8.30pm on Thursday 21 September.

    You can also view the plans and share your ideas at www.engagingmitchellshire.com or drop in to the Wallan Customer and Library Service Centre at Wellington Square.

    Feedback closes on Thursday 5 October 2017.