Swan Hill Rural City Council has initiated a community involvement process to develop the Swan Hill Riverfront Renewal Masterplan.
The Masterplan focuses on all the public space in a 4.5km stretch of the Murray and Little Murray rivers – from the Milloo Street wetlands in the north to the Pental Island bridge in the south.
Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor, Councillor Les McPhee said the aim was to create a livable, functional and accessible riverfront area for locals and visitors alike.
“We have a wonderful stretch of river and there are so many opportunities available to make it a real hub for visitors, to attract people to live and work in our city, and to provide people across the region with a riverfront they can use and be proud of,” Cr McPhee said.
“The Masterplan will set out the community’s hopes for the riverfront, and provide cost estimates for various sections of the project to help Council and other levels of government plan for their implementation,” he said.
Council has appointed its Acting Community Facilitation Manager, Fiona Gormann to facilitate the project, and has engaged Tract Consultants to undertake the work. But Cr McPhee said it would be the community driving the ideas and informing Tract Consultants.
“Through small discussion groups, surveys and open house meetings, members of our community have a range of chances to tell us what they want to see on the riverfront,”
“The consultants will then work with Council to collate the information into an achievable draft plan and come back to the community for final adjustment,” said Cr McPhee.
“I encourage all community members to avail themselves of these opportunities to have their say.”
A visitor survey was also distributed through local accommodation providers and online in an attempt to gain the views of visitors during the busy January and February holiday period.
The survey asked visitors what they use the river for, what additions they would like to see and what improvements would see them return to Swan Hill.
Wider community surveys and discussions with traditional landowners, multicultural groups, business owners, school students and others are taking place and an open house event for the entire community is to be held on the 25th February 2013.
The Masterplan is being developed thanks to a partnership between Council and Regional Development Victoria (RDV), who are funding the project.
