The Shire of Chittering in Western Australia has revitalised a tired main street.
Binda Place is the main business precinct for Chittering and acts as its ‘window’ to highway traffic, providing visitors a first impression of the character of the district.
The development of Binda Place has been one of slow incremental growth; there was much to be achieved through the enhancement of this once unsafe, impractical and inadequate main street.
The last property development to take place prior to this project was in 2009 and resulted in the purpose-built Bindoon Bakehaus.
This popular eatery entices a lot of visitors to the area and created a focal point for the precinct.
Council was keen to encourage this type of development in its main shopping district, hence the requirement for a street enhancement program.
In March this year the infrastructure aspect of the Binda Place Enhancement Project drew to a close.
The completion of these long-awaited works includes the addition of: improved vehicle access and parking; upgraded drainage and road surfaces; improved pedestrian access, and safety; the installation of street lighting; street furniture; and eye-catching signage.
The works were made possible through the allocation of funds from Roads to Recovery, along with a successful Wheatbelt Regional Grants Scheme application.
Since the commencement of the project: one business has changed hands and is being given a facelift; a vacant building has been sold to a neighbouring business for expansion; and the empty restaurant building has been leased (after nearly three years of disuse).
Another recent improvement to the precinct, thanks to Western Power, was the undergrounding of power through the town site and, courtesy of Water Corp, there will be a sewage system upgrade in 2018.
The activation phase of the project will be undertaken
later in the year.
