Council pushes ahead with plan

Horsham Rural City Council has adopted a 15-year revitalisation plan for Horsham’s city centre.

Councillors, at a meeting on Monday night, voiced support for the ‘Horsham Central Activity District Revitalisation: Streetscape Plan’, that lists seven strategies and 15 projects estimated to cost about $9.3-million.

The ‘CAD’ refers to the area bound north by Baillie Street, east to Urquhart Street and west to Darlot Street. It includes O’callaghan Parade and Horsham Plaza.

Strategies include developing an off-street laneway network that also provides a safe and convenient pedestrian network, identifying improvements for priority streets, ‘strengthening character and identity’ through restoring heritage features, creating more outdoor meeting places, and improving safety and physical and visual connections between the town centre and broader Horsham.

It also includes furnishings, paving and planting.

Three rounds of in-person and online community consultation determined there was ‘significant’ support for increased parks and green spaces, a town square, enhancing walkability, pop-up parks and outdoor dining, activating laneways, cycling lanes and enhancing heritage buildings.

Abandoned

Councillors noted that previous considerations for parallel parking and bike lanes in Firebrace Street were abandoned; while upgrades to the former Roberts Avenue kindergarten and May Park will offer families a safe and fun area for children.

Following concerns from Westvic Business, the council has committed to further consultation with businesses in relation to street crossings, and noted concerns about potential disruption as works are implemented.

Mayor Robyn Gulline said consultation would continue throughout implementation.

“This plan is a long-term plan. There are seven strategies and there are 15 projects that could be implemented by our council over a period of time – depending on budget and depending on future consultation, which is well documented in the plan,” Cr Gulline said. “I’m very comfortable in supporting this, knowing that this just gives us a base and there will be multiple opportunities for consultation with businesses and stakeholders at each step of the way.”

Regional centre

Cr Penny Flynn said Horsham needed the resources and infrastructure of a regional city.

“We are not a small country town, and many smaller towns come to Horsham for a variety of goods and services,” she said.

“We need a vibrant city and streetscape. We need to encourage active transport.”

Cr David Bowe said the council needed a plan.

“The CBD plays a vital role for all of us,” he said.

Cr Ian Ross said businesses were ‘on a knife’s edge’ of survival – particularly after the impacts of two years of the pandemic.

While he supported the concept, he also expressed concerns that works would slow traffic throughput within the CAD and risk losing trade.

Cr Les Power said the community ‘shouldn’t be afraid’ to ‘embrace renewal’.

“Every time we come up with an idea of renewing something in Horsham, we have a lot of backlash,” he said.

“We have a few people who are against being positive – that’s the way I see it – which is a real shame. “Let’s get Horsham cracking.” Cr Claudia Haenel called for the council to postpone the vote, saying community and businesses felt unaware of some, or all, proposals in the plan and wanted further consultation. Her motion was defeated.

The plan is part of the broader ‘City to River’ project, which is based on the ‘CBD Revitalisation Strategy’ of 2017. This document provided recommendations for infrastructure and public realm upgrades.

The council has allowed $9.9-million in long-term capital works – from external grants, a loan, CBD reserve and rates.

People can view the plan via www.hrcc. vic.gov.au