Media release - Share the love

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.