Concept plans on how an upgraded Jack Cooper Drive/Ryde Street roundabout could look like as part of Gawler Council’s beautification plan. PHOTO: Landskap
Brendan Simpkins
GAWLER Council will embark on a plan to spruce up the town – and the community is invited to provide input.
The draft Beautification Plan is out for public consultation, opening on March 31, and will run until April 28.
As part of the plan, Gawler’s main entrances will be given a makeover and a number of roundabouts will also be upgraded.
The project aims to improve the town’s appearance and boost cleanliness and tidiness.
Councillor Kelvin Goldstone, who took to council the idea to upgrade the town’s character, encouraged the community to engage in the consultation period.
Cr Goldstone said he developed the idea following his campaign for election in 2018 after engaging with ratepayers.
He said it was a common theme that ratepayers wanted to see an upgrade to amenities such as footpaths and nature strips. Cr Goldstone said it was important that as many people in Gawler as possible provided comment in order to shape how the final Beautification Plan would look.
“I am hopeful that as many people as possible will at least have a look at (the draft plan),” he said.
“If they don’t have a look at it, just fire in things that they would like to see happen and then after that hopefully council will run with it.
“If they want to have a say on what Gawler is going to look like, now is the time. A lot of this stuff is getting back to basics.”
Once the consultation is finalised, upgrades will be made to the plan based on community feedback, which will then be presented to elected members for adoption.
The plan involves a review of existing conditions in town and opportunities for upgrades at various entry points around Gawler.
Entrances earmarked for upgrades are Main North Road north and south, Redbanks Road, Ryde Street, Barossa Valley Way, Calton Road and Riggs Hill Road.
Eight roundabouts in the township have also been earmarked for upgrades.
The improvements to the entrances will include planting of trees along the roadside to make it more presentable to the eye, new kerbs and footpaths, and possible entry statements at major roads.
The plan fits in with other beautification projects that have been undertaken around Gawler, such as the upgrades of Walker Place and Murray Street, landscaping on the Gawler East Link Road and the future Julian Terrace Pocket Park.
