March 14, 2013
Wondai’s CBD will be transformed later this year when the South Burnett Regional Council implements the first stage of an ambitious “Village Green” redevelopment of the town centre
The existing railway tracks will be ripped up and replaced with modern walkways; a new 48-hour motorhome parking area will be built next to the former railway station; and the school bus stop near the Timber Industry Museum will be moved further along the Bunya Highway to a larger off-road area.
Coronation Park’s gardens will be replanted in a more open layout; new paths will criss-cross the area, including an “historical walk” with embedded bronze plaques retelling stories about significant moments in the town’s history; and sweeping vistas will be opened up between Haly and Mackenzie streets.
Metre-tall curved black granite walls announcing Wondai’s name in stainless steel will funnel visitors from the Haly Street roundabout into the town’s centre, and a large feature tree – possibly a jacaranda – will draw viewers’ eyes.
The Percy Iszlaub sound shell will be enhanced with grass amphitheatre seating, and barbecues and picnic tables will be installed at strategic points around the grounds.
A new off-street car park will also be built in front of the amenities block, and the Scott Street portion of Coronation Park will be turned into a multi-purpose outdoor venue suitable for the monthly Wondai Markets. the annual Christmas Carnival and other community events.
The draft plan was unveiled at a public meeting held at the Wondai Services Club on Tuesday night.
This meeting was a follow-up to another public meeting held last November where the proposal to create a Village Green was first adopted.
The November meeting was told the South Burnett Regional Council had allocated $100,000 to Wondai for urban improvements; council was willing to spend the money wherever the community thought best, but the SBRC had two ideas of its own which it put up for discussion.
One was to upgrade the Wondai swimming pool, and the other was to take advantage of the imminent removal of the railway to create a “village green” to reinvigorate the town’s heart and foster economic growth.
The village green concept galvanised the meeting and suggestions for what it could include came thick and fast.
Council officers recorded them, and by night’s end Mayor Wayne Kratzmann promised they’d be incorporated into a draft design that he’d bring back to a second public meeting to be held in early 2013.
Mayor Kratzmann apologised on Tuesday that the second meeting was being held later than originally planned – “we’ve been a bit busy with the floods” – but said all suggestions from the first meeting had been incorporated into the draft design.
He then turned the meeting over to council’s Natural Resources and Parks manager Greg Griffiths who produced the designs to show how the finished project would look.
Mr Griffiths said he’d found the task more challenging than initially expected but hoped everyone would be pleased with the result.
He explained the features of the development and outlined how the different “spaces” would complement each other and the existing streetscape.
Cr Cheryl Dalton reminded everyone that the “Village Green” is a multi-stage project and what Mr Griffths was showing them was just the first stage.
“This entire project will take many years to complete. But what we’re seeing tonight can be done right now,” she said.
Mayor Kratzmann then called on the audience for their feedback on what they’d seen and any further suggestions they might have.
The designs for the new Village Green will be on display at the Wondai Chamber Of Commerce’s up-coming Community Meet & Greet this Sunday, March 17, for the benefit of any residents who weren’t able to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
The Meet & Greet will be held in Coronation Park between noon and 2:00pm.
Councillors Cheryl Dalton and Kathy Duff will be on hand to explain the designs (which show an aerial overview of the project as well as 3D perspectives) and take any further suggestions.
After this, the SBRC will proceed to final designs, then construction.
Work on the project will start in late April or May and is expected to be completed by early September.
- Related article: Wondai Votes For Village Green
