An off-road shared pedestrian and cycle path and improved footpath connections to Blackbutt Reserve are part of a Multimillion-dollar upgrade to Blackbutt Village.
The upgrade will also include a new pedestrian crossing and see the introduction of a 40km per hour High Pedestrian Activity Area.
“Early in this project the community highlighted concerns about safety, and in particular safety when crossing the busy Orchardtown Road,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Our team have been busy developing a design that both improves safety and encourages pedestrians and cyclists to the area, as well as making it a safer place to park your car and visit the local shops.”
Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the upgrade will see the entire public domain of the popular local centre renewed for the local community and visitors, with a focus on place activation and improving public spaces to further promote local businesses.
“Wider footpaths and new plazas will improve outdoor dining and promote activation of the area, while its look and feel will be improved with renewed drainage, kerbs, gutters, road surfaces, footpaths, lighting, street furniture, tree planting and landscaping,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.
“As a part of our ongoing engagement with the community, we will also invite local residents and businesses to let us know their ideas for the best use and activation ideas for the new public open spaces later in the year.”
Following a workshop with business owners in the area, the broader community will be invited to provide feedback on options for timed parking in the coming months.
The project is being delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s Local Centres program and follows similar upgrades at Carrington, Beresfield, Joslin Street in Kotara, Llewellyn Street in Merewether, James Street Plaza in Hamilton, and the upgrades currently under construction in Stockton and Shortland.
Construction is estimated to be complete by early 2024.
