VICTORIA’S government architect office has recommended proposed revitalisation of Warrnambool’s main street go further than the retail strip to include side streets and inner-city residential development.
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The department’s submission to a draft master plan for the Liebig Street section between Raglan Parade and Koroit Street congratulated the city council for its initiative, but suggested the vision be broader.
It suggested San Francisco and Christchurch as examples of strategies to bring life and activity into Liebig Street.
Associate Victorian Government Architect Jill Garner said the southern end of Liebig Street which had a more traditional character, should also be part of the overall design picture.
The draft master plan goes before city councillors tonight for approval and authorisation to proceed to final detailed design and costing.
Further work would be undertaken on parking and relocation of the taxi rank, along with adjustments to the master plan in response to hundreds of suggestions from the community.
Ms Garner’s submission said off-street car parks presented “a great opportunity to introduce a residential population into the town centre”.
“We believe this can be done in such a way that provides frontage to the car parking areas using an uplift in their quality and landscape to provide amenity to the residential properties,” she said.
However, planners were urged to tread carefully on proposed replacement of plane trees in Liebig Street.
“The choice of tree species is a critical decision that needs to be informed by a rigorous appraisal,” Ms Garner said.
Parking spaces, parking fees, moves to reduce four lanes of traffic into two and proposed wider footpaths were among the most widely- commented aspects of the proposed master plan.
Long-time Warrnambool lawyer and community member James Tait called for more encouragement of private-sector investment in street redevelopment and car park frontages.
He suggested a four-storey parking complex in one of the main off-street car parks which could also incorporate upper-storey apartments, theatres and other features.
Mr Tait said one side of Liebig Street should have parallel parking to allow for a safe two-way bike path, rather than the draft master plan, which only allows for cyclists on the traffic lane.
Improved traffic flow into off-street car parks, closure of Liebig Street between Raglan Parade and Lava Street, speed limit reduction across the CBD and bus priority in Koroit Street were some of his other suggestions.
