Groundwork could start next year on a showpiece project to demonstrate what could be applied to other sections of the main street precinct. It would be the first major CBD facelift in decades and would include footpaths, roads and car parks.

The city council is aiming to appoint a consultant urban designer or landscape architect to a team of local advisers.

The consultant would work to produce a draft for community comment before councillors vote on whether to seek funding for construction.

 “It will be a demonstration project for the two Liebig Street retail blocks from Raglan Parade,” said council manager for city centre renewal Tanya Egan.

“We want to see both blocks linked together better. This will help create a centre more welcoming to pedestrians and one that will encourage high-quality private investment in our main CBD street.

“Our aim is to do the central section first then, subject to council decisions, we would do the southern end of Liebig Street, the Raglan Parade entrance and the Civic Green precinct. But we  don’t want to rush it.”

The design project is estimated to cost $90,000 and comes about six years after consultants led community brainstorming sessions for Make Your Mark on the City Heart, followed by  a city centre structure plan in 2012, again involving a consultant’s report and community comment.

Mayor Michael Neoh said the proposed demonstration project was part of a 10-year vision to revitalise the CBD and enact visions outlined by the community in previous years.

“These high-level aspirations of our community will be interpreted in a pragmatic way,” he said.