The reinstatement of an Avenue of Honour along Seymour’s Anzac Avenue is the primary goal of a forthcoming Mitchell Shire Council masterplan, with residents encouraged to provide their thoughts on the project.
Council will develop a masterplan covering the avenue from the railway underpass to Kobyboyn Road, expanding the scope of the project after community consultation last year.
As well as reinstating the Avenue of Honour, the masterplan will guide other streetscape improvement works.
The original Avenue of Honour on Anzac Avenue was planted in 1917 in respect of the region’s fallen soldiers in the First World War.
The trees were removed in the early 1980s when the road was built in its current form.
Council officers said community and stakeholder feedback last year showed people wanted the masterplan to include: the reinstatement of the Avenue of Honour tree memorial; improved access to the war memorial and surrounds; improved safety for all road users; enhanced pedestrian and cycling safety, including safer pedestrian crossings and connections; improved public spaces and seating; and increased biodiversity and large tree canopy cover.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens said Anzac Avenue was an important part of Seymour’s military history as well as a highly used precinct of the town that formed part of the Goulburn Valley Highway network.
“I welcome and encourage ongoing community input and interest to get the very best possible planning outcome, all the while having the primary focus around the fantastic feedback we have already received and will hopefully continue to receive,” she said.
“There are many challenges, but our aim is to find a fair and good balance between community expectations of the area and the functionality for both now and well into our future.
“It is extremely important for the community to maintain their interest and input, as it will then allow council to finalise the masterplan and progress to seek funding to deliver the upgrades and beautification.”
Council has developed a design report outlining options for community consideration, including: strategies for delivering the Avenue of Honour; options for enhancing the surrounds of the Returned Services League, RSL, Memorial; options for improving public spaces and seating; on-road cycle lanes and off-road shared path improvements; and intersection upgrades and general traffic safety improvements.
Cr Stevens said the scope of the project meant it would likely be delivered in stages.
“The complexity, size and expected cost will be considerable and may have to be provided in stages into the future,” she said.
Council will host design workshops and drop-in sessions during the masterplan consultation period.
Workshops today at the Salvation Army Hall, 10 Victoria Street, will include a community session from 4pm to 6pm and a trader and community session from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
A Station Street drop-in session at the mall between Woolworths and Station Street will be on Wednesday, May 10, from 9am to 1pm.
Anzac Village drop-in sessions on the footpath near 115 Anzac Avenue, Seymour, will be on Saturday, May 6, from 10am to 2pm, and Saturday May 20, from 10am to 2pm.
A drop-in session at Seymour Senior Citizens Hall, 80 Anzac Avenue, Seymour, will be on Monday, May 22 from 4pm to 7.30pm.
People can have their say on the options or find more information on the project at website www.engagingmitchellshire.com. Consultation is open until 5pm on May 24.
