Backyard Blitz is making its way to Tuncurry, but not in the shape of a television program.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As part of the MidCoast Council Vibrant Spaces initiative, the Tuncurry central business district is to undergo a seven-day makeover.
With assistance from world renowned 'place maker' and Creative Communities director, David Engwicht the concept behind the makeover is to improve public spaces in Tuncurry, to slow down and stop passing traffic, and to then entice them to extend their visit in Tuncurry.
At the same time the project will identify who and what is missing from the town space and what it is that will get them engaging with that space again.
Mr Engwicht has a strong and long relationship with the region stretching back to Tidy Up Taree and the implementation of Vibrant Spaces in the Taree central business district in 2014.
The seven-day makeover was borne following a series of workshops in Bulahdelah, Forster and Gloucester, which were held late last year in conjunction with NSW Small Business month.
The council run workshops were organised to help spread the philosophy of 'place making' and the benefits of Vibrant Spaces.
Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public space, capitalising on the community's assets, inspiration and potential with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness, and wellbeing.
MidCoast Council economic development co-ordinator, Robyn Brennan believed Tuncurry was overflowing with potential.
People value Tuncurry, but it is an under utilised space, she said.
"It is seen as a gateway or a thoroughfare to Forster.
"We want to break that down and give it its own identity."
Depending on Mr Engwicht's workload, MidCoast Council hopes the project will be completed before the end of the calendar year.
Ms Brennan said council's role would be in the background as a facilitator, while the business community would make major decisions on what direction the project would take.
"It will be a collective decision,"
Michele's Jewellers principal, Michele Chapman-Cheers is thrilled with the initiative.
"We believe we have been used as a thoroughfare and have lost the feeling of a shopping precinct," she said.
"We understand we can't change that but we have to work around that.
"We have to bring the concept of a village atmosphere back into the main street."
The business community want to entice people to stop and look at our beautiful entry to the Great Lakes, she said.
Two meetings have brought a positive response and feedback for the concept with a range of strong and innovative ideas discussed.
"Let's bring Tuncurry's past back into the main street through art, history, murals.
"We want to show the people who travel through Tuncurry there is a reason to stop here and make the community proud of their main street.
"This has been the most positive visual concept our main street has ever seen."
A recent survey conducted over a 30 second afternoon, non-peak hour period identified that 73 vehicles travelling one way through Tuncurry
"We need to capture them but we do not have anything to entice them."