Gawler Mayor Karen Redman, Poetic Justice café owner Gayle Joyce, Gawler chief executive officer Henry Inat and BluBuilt project manager Ryan Sullivan at the near-completed Walker Place precinct on Monday. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
GAWLER’S Walker Place will soon be fully open to the public, with construction on the thoroughfare set to be completed next week.
The area’s redevelopment – part of a wider $2.2 million revamp of the Walker Place-Julian Terrace precinct – began in February and saw the thoroughfare repaved and re-landscaped.
The project was jointly funded by the State Government, which contributed around $1 million to the construction.
Much of the space is now open for pedestrians to walk through, with access to Walker Place businesses now the most open since construction started.
Construction firm BluBuilt will install light towers and put the finishing touches on the area before it opens to traffic and parking next Friday.
Walker Place business owner Gayle Joyce, who operates Poetic Justice café, was pleased with the project’s outcome.
“It’s been quite exciting watching the growth of this,” she said. “This space now looks awesome.
“I really can’t wait now for all the events to come to the town centre.
“It’s already made a huge difference to my business, especially now all the bollards have been taken down. People can see the business is open.”
The space is set to be officially opened by planning and infrastructure minister Stephan Knoll in the future.
Attention on the $2.2 million project will now turn to the demolition of the Julian Terrace public toilets, with a new block to be built closer to Apex Park.
The existing Julian Terrace toilet block mural will be conserved in its current place at a cost of $93,000.
Mayor Karen Redman said the Walker Place precinct would add “culture” to the town.
“When we talk about COVID-19 and reinvigorating our business and economic development, we sometimes forget about the social recovery and bringing people back together,” she said.
“What this space will do is bring people back so that we can gather, be a community and support our local businesses in a stunning environment.
“Grant money is not easy to get, so we’re really grateful for the support we’ve received from the State Government.”
