Kingborough Council is asking for businesses, workers and shoppers to help re-design central Kingston.
Mayor Dean Winter said over $2 million had been budgeted to fix the Channel Highway at Kingston and to construct a new bus interchange this financial year, but that the projects would wait until after Council had heard from its community.
“Central Kingston is a mess,” Cr Winter said.
“We need to rethink central Kingston and attract a major employer to Kingston Park. We need to understand what makes town centres vibrant and attractive for community members and business owners.
“We are really pleased to have been allocated $800,000 for a new bus interchange at Kingston by the State Government through the City Deal. We want to make sure we get its placement and design right.
“The activation of our central business district is a critical step to reduce congestion by making Kingston a more convenient place to do business, work and shop.
“There is no doubt the loss of Vodafone has had a detrimental impact on Kingston businesses but that the poor layout of Kingston was not helping local business.
“Council has engaged Place Score, an independent research agency, to survey and ask our community what makes a central business district attractive for them. We will use the information to help develop a master plan for Kingston which will inform what we do with the Channel Highway and new bus infrastructure.
“The results of this survey will help us shape future planning decisions for central Kingston and be used across multiple projects such as the reconstruction of the Channel Highway.
“The aim is for Council to be able to develop a Master Plan for central Kingston from the information collected.”
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, The Hon. Michael Ferguson MP said, “The Government is pleased to be contributing to the redevelopment of central Kingston.
“As part of its commitment under the Hobart City Deal the Hodgman majority Liberal Government is funding a bus interchange, which in concert with the proposed fifth lane, will improve the journey into the city for Kingborough residents.”
Along with some on the street surveys, people can have their say by completing the a five minute survey at www.oursay.org/kingborough-council/placescore.
Place Score is a place-making analysis platform that identifies what makes town centres important to inform government and the property sector on how to invest in communities.
The survey closes on Monday, 18 November and participants have the chance of winning one of five $100 online vouchers that can be used at over 80 retailers.