Margaret River Main Street Makeover

Stage 2A (Tunbridge St to Fearn Ave)

Looking uphill from the peanut roundabout the street is really starting to take shape. Landscapers have been busily planting and mulching in amongst the reticulated garden beds, and new light poles installed today.

Fences have been removed up to the entrance to Settlers Tavern car park, making this section of the Main Street open and easy for pedestrians.

Cleaning of footpaths has been taking place in the evenings, ready for holiday foot traffic. Next week will see new street furniture being installed.

Stage 2B update (Fearn Avenue - new Festival Precinct)

Storm water connections between businesses and the main system have been installed today and will be ongoing next week. Installation of electrical and irrigation cabling is continuing next week.

Stage 3 (Willmott Ave to Wallcliffe Rd)

Stage 3 is seeing two distinct items of work being undertaken: a new water main (to deliver water) being installed, and new storm water drainage being built.

The replacement of the water main has been moving uphill at a rapid pace, now moving up past Town Square. This trench will be back-filled and construction of new storm water drainage will follow along behind.

Next week will also see commencement of electrical and irrigation sleeves for servicing garden beds and electrical needs in the later stages of the road works.

Stage 2A (Tunbridge St to Fearn Ave)

• Street light poles will be installed from Monday.
• Landscaping works are due to be completed by end of the next week in this section.
• Footpath cleaning and sealing works from Tunbridge to Settlers are due for completion by the end of next week. Cleaning will also be after hours (5pm). BCP will work with traders to confirm the work schedule to minimise disruption to businesses operating after hours.
• Fences will be removed on both sides of the street from Tunbridge to Settlers once the sealing works are done. This will open things up nicely!
• Kerb works will continue up the hill.
• Based on arborist advice, the tree outside Side Kick Cafe will need to be removed. With the new road geometry and the tree growing at an angle, high vehicles may hit it.
  
  

Stage 2B update (Fearn Avenue - New Festival Precinct )

• Western Power has confirmed that the required power outage on Mon 21 September for reconnection to new services will be undertaken after hours (from 7pm on Mon 21 Sept to 6am Tue 22 Sept).
• Hurray! The major drainage works underground in Fearn Ave are now complete.
• Existing foothpaths in the Festival Precinct will be demolished next week.
• Underground power cables and irrigation sleeves are almost installed.
• There will be limited access to the public toilets at the Fearn Ave/Charles West St intersection, please access via Charles West St.
  
  

Stage 3 (Willmott Ave to Wallcliffe Rd)

• Water main replacement and drainage works are continuing up the hill.

Main Street works have made good progress this week in Stages 2A and 2B, and next week we will see the following activity taking place:

Stage 2A (Tunbridge St to Fearn Ave)

• From tomorrow morning (Saturday) footpaths will be fully open from Tunbridge St to the Margaret River Bookshop on the east side, and to Sidekick Café on the west side.
• Topsoil and landscaping in the garden beds and medians from Tunbridge St to Settlers Tavern has commenced today and will continue tomorrow and into the early part of next week.
• Streetlight installation in the medians from Tunbridge St to Settlers Tavern will be happening over the following week
• Continuation of new footpath construction from Settlers to Fearn Ave. The Shire and BCP will continue to liaise with affected traders to organise and confirm work schedules.
• Footpath cleaning and sealing works from Tunbridge to Settlers will commence after hours (from 5pm). BCP will work with traders to confirm the work schedule to minimise disruption to businesses operating after hours, this is scheduled for later in the week.
• Western Power has confirmed that the required power outage on 21^st September for reconnection to new services will be undertaken after hours (from 8pm) to reduce disruption to trade.

Stage 2B (Fearn Ave Festival Precinct)

• The extensive drainage works underground in Fearn Ave will be completed on Saturday 12^th September. See the picture below for an indication of how much infrastructure is being installed to deal with our annual winter deluge.
• Underground power cables and irrigation sleeves will commence installation on Monday 14^th September
• The remaining road surface and road base will be removed from the Festival precinct to enable the new pedestrian area and one way section to be constructed.
• Pedestrian access to Yonder Bar, Egberts and Acton Real Estate will be maintained at all times. Please follow the pedestrian detour signs.
• There will be limited access to the public toilets at the Fearn Ave/Charles West St intersection, please access via Charles West St

Stage 3 (Willmott Ave to Wallcliffe Rd)

• Water main replacement and drainage works will commence on Monday 14^th
• The cul de sac will move from its current position to outside Hemp Co on Monday 14^th.
• Depending on progress the remainder of the Stage 3 project area (from Willmott Ave to Wallcliffe Rd) will be closed to vehicles from as early as Saturday 19^th September to enable the continuation of the works to replace the water main and storm water drainage. As soon as this date is finalised we communicate the details.
• A reminder that the Margaret River Hotel bottle shop is accessible from Ned Higgins Lane for in-car service.

*Please note the following in relation to Stage 3 works:

• To support achieving the target completion date of 18^th December it is essential that the underground works are completed as soon as possible.
• Full pedestrian access will be maintained to the east and west sides of Stage 3 whilst these works are completed.
• Additional pedestrian crossing points will be installed as soon as it is safe to do so.
• The Shire and BCP are speaking to all affected businesses from this point on in relation to this and all future works in Stage 3.

Stage 2A – Tunbridge St to Fearn Ave

• Footpath works will continue throughout the week of the 7^th September with footpaths completed and fully open in the section from Tunbridge St to Settlers Tavern.
• Finalisation of the medians including landscaping will follow with this work scheduled to be completed for the week commencing 21^st September.
• With these works completed fencing will be removed from the section between Tunbridge St and Settlers Tavern to support pedestrian activation of this space.

New footpath being poured today in front of the Target Arcade

Stage 2B – Fearn Ave Festival Precinct

• Drainage works to continue throughout this section.
• Western Power electrical installations are scheduled for 21^st September with notifications to affected businesses provided by Western Power.
• The Shire and BCP have been monitoring traffic flows at the IGA/Settlers car park, Tunbridge St and Charles West Ave. Traffic is flowing well without any significant congestion. Please see the map indicating access to this parking.

Stage 3 – Willmott Ave to Wallcliffe Rd

• Potholing to locate underground services in this next section has been underway, and drainage construction will commence on 14^th September.
• The cul de sac arrangement on Bussell Highway will relocate south of the MR Hotel bottleshop from 14^th September, roughly up to Bankwest/Margaret River Hemp Co.
• Access to the MR Hotel bottleshop will be from the rear after this date (see map).
• Pedestrian access to all businesses will continue throughout the work period.

Stage 2a update (Churchill Ave to Willmott Ave)

Kerbing and footpath works continue to move southwards along the main street with the new exposed aggregate footpaths beginning to show what the finished works will provide. Reticulation and landscaping are coming in next and soon the space will really start to take shape.

BCP have been working with traders to maintain access to premises as these works continue, and it won't be long until the cattle run of fencing comes down.

Stage 2b update (Fearn Avenue)

Drainage works will continue along Fearn Ave over the coming weeks; this will require the closure of Fearn Ave from the Charles West intersection from tomorrow (Thursday 27 August).

Access to the Coles car park will be via Fearn Ave opposite the library access road whilst access to the IGA/Settlers car park will be via Tunbridge St.

Traffic travelling north should use Townview Terrace via Forrest Rd and Churchill Ave if not intending to access car parks. The detour map below identifies public parking options throughout the precinct and routes for through traffic and those wishing to access the main street.

Stage 3 commencement (Willmott Ave to Wallcliffe Rd)

Following the announcement of funding for Stage 3, works will commence on Monday 31 August with drainage construction from Willmott Ave south.

This will result in the current cul de sac arrangement on the main street shifting south to the Margaret River Hotel bottle shop entrance for approximately 1 week.

Following this the closure will extend south to Town Square as the drainage works continue. In addition to the replacement of the storm water system, the existing Water Corporation water main requires replacement as it is now over 60 years old.

Main Street promotional video
The Shire has funded a soon to be released film clip to support ongoing visitation to the Main Street. This was brought to the Shire by Main Street traders and the MRCCI with the Shire happy to support the initiative.

It’s primarily targeted at visitors to manage expectations about their visit to Margaret River’s town centre.

The clip will highlight the Main Street is open for business, help visitors know to plan and book ahead, show what’s happening in the centre of town and gain some understanding about what individual shop owners are going through – delivered in a light and humorous way.

It will be ‘released’ across our social media platforms. Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association will assist with distribution of the video, and local businesses will be encouraged to share via their social media channels as well.

Keep your eyes peeled!

Stage 2a update (Churchill Ave to Willmott Ave)
Works connecting the drainage crossovers to properties are now complete. Kerbing is being laid up the street with the footpaths following on behind.

As the footpath works progress we will work with all traders to minimise/avoid access issues whilst works are in progress.

We have made one final adjustment to the parking layout at the north entrance to town, on the east lane to facilitate access for elderly and infirm community members. No further adjustments are planned.

Stage 3 Planning
With the announcement that the State government are funding Stage 3, the Shire and BCP are working to finalise the construction plan for the final stage of the project from Fearn Avenue to Wallcliffe Road.

Whilst we are conscious of the disruption that Stage 2 works are having there will be a need for some overlap of Stage 2 and 3 construction works to ensure that we can deliver the project between now and Christmas.

We will hold an information session for local businesses in the coming weeks. Details will be available on the mainstreetmakeover.com.au website and emailed out to traders.

Stage 1a (Peanut Roundabout)
Final landscaping works are underway and will be completed next week. This will mark the completion of the northern entry to town.

Councillors welcomed today’s State Government announcement of an additional $3.08m to fund the third and final stage of Margaret River’s Main Street Makeover.

With Stage Two works tracking well, news of the additional funds will enable the Shire of Augusta Margaret River to keep contractors on site and complete the section from Willmott Avenue up to the new Wallcliffe Road Roundabout.

To date, over 90% of project funds have been spent on local trades in the South West region, with 50% within the Shire.

Acting Shire President Pauline McLeod said she was thrilled with the announcement.

“Now that the two new roundabouts are complete, we can really start to visualise how our new Main Street will look,” she said.

“Whilst the works have caused disruption for our community, the critical upgrades to storm water infrastructure, safer intersections, pedestrian friendly street and new festival precinct will be well worth it.

“Continuing the works will also support ongoing employment for the many local subcontractors working on the job, which in turn supports their families and the local economy.

“I’d like to thank the State Government, including the South West Development Commission for supporting this project.”

The Shire will hold an information session for local businesses in the Main Street around the Stage Three timing. Further details will be available at www.mainstreetmakeover.com.au next week.

Kerbing
You'll start to see the structure of new parking bays and median strips emerge with kerbing going in. Crews will begin in front of the Visitor Centre, and continue up the hill.

Removal of trees
Those trees identified in Stage 2 of the plans will be removed next week.
Greening up the town centre is a central part of the Main Street Makeover, providing shade, natural beauty and habitat for bird life. Once completed we'll increase the total number of trees from 78 to 92 along the Main Street.

Replanting (500L and 200L pot size) will happen when final landscaping is done.

Retic hook up to recycled water
Retic for garden beds in the peanut roundabout and surrounding intersection will be installed. These will connect to our recycled water system.

Fearn Avenue
A tricky bit of stormwater engineering is now done, with pipes installed over 4m deep at the Fearn Av/Bussell Hwy intersection.
Electrical pillars are being relocated on Fearn Avenue in preparation for ground works to start in this area.

What's happening?

A dry weather window is coming up on Mon 20 July, allowing line marking at the two new roundabouts to take place.

Road closures and detours

• Morning road closure, Mon 20 July at Wallcliffle roundabout, reopening in the afternoon.
• Afternoon road closure, Mon 20 July at the 'peanut' roundabout (Tunbridge St/Bussell Hwy/ Churchill Av intersection), reopening in the evening.

Please follow detour signage. Thanks for your patience.