The Singleton Streetscape project, which was initially intended to beautify the main street, has evolved into a project looking to ensure the long term viability of all businesses within the CBD and to create a town centre of benefit to the whole community of Singleton.

Singleton Council’s director of operations and member of the Streetscape sub committee, Gary Woodman, said the redevelopment was designed to attract people and businesses to the CBD.

“What we are trying to achieve is a modern and vibrant regional centre,” he said.

“We want to create a place that everyone feels like going to and keep coming back to.”

Singleton Council allocated $400,000 in the 2007/8 budget for a review and scoping of the streetscape plan, and engaged outside planners to develop a vision for the future of Singleton’s commercial area.

The plan allows for the development of six precincts, which have been designed to manage outcomes in particular areas.

The precincts are the station, John Street south, John Street central, John Street north, northern approach, and the New England Highway.

Ease of movement and connectivity to the town’s other areas will be important features for each of the precincts.

The station precinct is the lower portion of the CBD near the railway station and has been identified as an area for new residential, commercial and retail development.

The Gowrie Street Mall redevelopment is the major feature of the John Street south precinct, and will feature a forecourt to the shopping centre, as well as feature paving, custom street furniture, lighting, trees and low mass planted pockets.

The John Street central precinct is the area that will see the major work.

The vision for this precinct is as a dining and entertainment area.

The area will have a widening of footpaths and overhead steel shade structures to encourage alfresco dining, street trees and mass planting of low hedges, and will have a portion of the road raised to create a seamless boulevard.

Annes Lane will be closed and turned into a pedestrian only plaza that will lend itself to festivals and other events.

John Street north will look to funnel attention towards the centre of the CBD without detracting from the existing businesses.

The northern approach will be based around parkland and the New England Highway precinct will be designed as a gateway to the CBD.

If the project is endorsed by councillors at this Monday’s meeting, a way to fund the project will have to be determined.

One of the options that has been aired is a special variation rate rise similar to that for the parks and facilities department in 2006/7.

In his report to council, one of the options Mr Woodman presents is the project being funded by $2 million of internal council resources and a $4.68 million loan that could be paid for by an increase of approximately five per cent in rates of the whole community.

An increase in the maintenance and operational costs for an upgraded CBD of around $80,000 would also be expected.

Mr Woodman suggests this could be funded by an increase in the caretaking service charge that is already levied on businesses in the CBD.

Mr Woodman said an extensive and wide ranging consultation process was planned if the project was approved to proceed.