Streetscape Concept Plan FAQs
Where will caravans and motorhomes park?
The Augusta Civic Precinct Masterplan previously identified an opportunity to provide long vehicle parking (including RV, caravan and motorhomes) within the Civic Precinct Area.
The diversion of long vehicles away from Blackwood Avenue will facilitate better pedestrian permeability in the northern section of the Augusta town centre, while also allowing for increased landscaping opportunities.
Where will the bus stop be relocated?
An opportunity to collocate the existing bus stop to the Civic Precinct has been identified as part of the Streetscape Concept Plan. Relocation of the bus stop would remove buses from travelling along Blackwood Avenue, while also allowing for an increase in car parking numbers, consistent footpath width and safer pedestrian crossing points.
How will the bus stop be accessible?
As part of the Streetscape Concept proposals, the community is being consulted on potential future options for Heppingstone View. The concept presented will enable better pedestrian access between the Town Centre and the Civic Precinct, enabling access to the proposed bus stop location.
Why does the width of the road lanes need to be reduced?
Reducing lane widths would result in wider footpaths, pedestrian refuges and slower traffic movement through the precinct.
Will the proposed road lane widths function safely?
Road lane widths along the southern section of Blackwood Avenue (south of Ellis Street) are currently 3.6m. Many of the concepts prepared for the ‘Retail Strip’ section of Blackwood Avenue (north of Ellis Street) include road lane widths of 3.5m, comparable with the current southern section of Blackwood Avenue. The proposed concept plan has been reviewed by a qualified transport consultant and the reduction in lane widths will meet the relevant Australian Standards. The proposed road lane widths are also consistent with other town centres across the Shire, Australia and Internationally.
Will the streetscape concept create better access for gophers, bikes, and pedestrians?
One of the key focusses of the Streetscape Concept Plan is to enable better access for all locals and visitors. Opportunities have been identified for footpaths to be widened and consistent construction materials applied throughout the town centre. Additional seating, bike parking, and gopher friendly parking areas will be included in the final streetscape concept plan.
Will car parking bays be removed as part of the Concept Plan?
Yes. Unfortunately, the total number of car parking bays along Blackwood Avenue will be reduced.
Some bays will be required to be removed to achieve compliance with relevant standards, particularly sightline requirements. The current bays have been around for a long time and would not meet current road safety requirements. All will be done to reduce as few car parking bays as possible.
Car parking will also be required to be removed to improve current management/ ownership issues, as well as making way for safer pedestrian crossing points and development of public spaces aimed at increasing pedestrian safety.
How many car parking bays will be removed?
A total of 13 bays are proposed to be removed as part of the Concept Plan. Blackwood Avenue currently has a total of 60 bays, with 47 bays being proposed as part of the Concept Plan.
There are currently 23 bays (includng 1 ACROD bay) within the 'slip lane' area, with 17 45-degree bays proposed in this area. This will result in a loss of six (6) bays.
Currently eight (8) 90-degree bays (including one (1) ACROD bay) are located outside the Bendigo Bank/ small shops, with the concept plan proposing to replace these with four (4) parallel parking bays. Resulting in a loss of four (4) bays from this area.
A further three (3) bays along Blackwood Avenue will be removed in order to meet relevant Australian Standards for sightlines.
Opportunities exist along Blackwood Avenue to investigate introducing additional car parking bays, which could result in reduce the loss of car bays. This can be investigated further following the results of this community consultation.
Will access be improved to the Blackwood Avenue Car Park?
Yes. As part of the concept plan the entrance to the carpark off Blackwood Avenue will be opened up. The existing (non-native) tree on the northern part of the entrance will be removed to increase visibility into the carpark. The driveway will be re-done to enable two way access safely further facilitating the use of the carpark.