Two new, temporary wooden parklets have popped up in the Mullumbimby CBD as Council kicks off its eight-month Talking Streets trial.
The new parklets feature built-in wooden seating, tables, planter boxes, and umbrellas, and Council says they have invited local high school students to contribute artwork for the space.
Council’s ‘Green Spine’ initiative, which is separate from the ‘Talking Street’ initiative, to turn the town centre into ‘a more attractive, safe, and people-friendly public space’ raised concerns from the local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce in February.
Parking issues
Issues raised around the ‘Green Spine’ initiative were the removal of car parking from the central business area, and the impact of a bike path between parked cars and the footpath on truck deliveries as well as vehicle and pedestrian access to businesses. There were no car parking spaces removed for the parklets trial.
Meanwhile, Byron Shire Council mayor Simon Richardson said in a press release, ‘Everyone’s invited to come and enjoy these two temporary new parklet spaces, which are perfect for meeting up with friends or enjoying a coffee or lunch, or having a good natter with a mate on the street’.
‘The idea of this project is for us all to try out these temporary additions to the town and decide what we think of them and whether we’d like to see parklets and more public spaces considered as a permanent feature in the future’.
Council says, ‘Other initiatives of the Talking Street Trial project include a new, temporary pedestrian crossing at the eastern end of Burringbar Street, near the Commonwealth Bank, a reduced 30km/h speed zone for the project area (Burringbar Street and central Stuart Street), the opportunity for smaller parklet spaces for local businesses (to be made available through an EoI process) and beautification of the Burringbar Street intersection’.
The trial was thanks to a grant from the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces fund.
For more information on the Talking Streets trial project go to the Byron Shire Council website and feedback is encouraged at Your Say Byron Shire.
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