PORT Macquarie residents are being urged to carefully review plans to transform the CBD and surrounding areas.
The “City Heart Strategy and Master Plan” is Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s vision for a more “vibrant, connected and resilient” town centre and, if approved, will guide its revitalisation over the next 10 to 20 years.
It includes plans to increase building heights and identify development sites for medium to high density residential living, and promotes a night-time economy and activated laneways.
At their 16 October meeting, held in Laurieton, councillors voted to place the draft on public exhibition.
“[This] provides the best opportunity for our community to shape this plan’s vision for our town and genuinely inform council staff moving forward,” Cr Danielle Maltman said.
“I encourage residents, business owners and stakeholders, in the particular areas of Port Macquarie CBD, Eastport, Windmill Hill, Rotary Park, Settlement City, Settlement Shores and Westport, to review this draft comprehensively and have their say during the exhibition period.”
Newly elected Deputy Mayor Nik Lipovac asked councillors to “always focus on parking” and raised the concerns of retired engineer Graeme Roberts, who felt the plan had failed to address the potential loss of public car spaces.
In a letter, also sent to News Of The Area, Mr Roberts questioned why the plan did not address traffic management, infrastructure, planning code compliance and the potential loss of line of sight to Church Hill from certain public spaces.
“The Draft Master Plan is too significant but also too flawed to be released in its current form,” he wrote.
Cr Lauren Edwards asked council staff why parking had not been addressed in detail, as it has been in other Master Plans.
Director of Community, Planning and Environment Melissa Watkins responded that the plan looks at the “visioning for the area as distinct from getting down into the details of the constraints of the area”.
“We don’t want to exclude any ideas coming forward based on rules,” she said.
“This is not the answer, this is actually just the vision and the ideas that have been put out to seek the community’s comments.”
The strategy was prepared by Council staff with input from AJC Urban Design and Architecture, Gyde Planning, and Atlas Economics, and has been funded through the Australian Government’s Housing Support Program.
More than 1500 people engaged with Council’s Have Your Say page during the consultation phase, with 34 residents taking part in a community workshop in June.
Themes emerging from that workshop included the need for better pedestrian links, more affordable housing, and stronger connections between the CBD and waterfront.
The draft strategy and plan will be on public exhibition for 28 days. To have your say, go to haveyoursay.pmhc.nsw.gov.au.
By Sue STEPHENSON
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