Queanbeyan Council has switched up its plans to transform a Braidwood site after feedback. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
It was second time lucky as a regional council endorsed amended concept design outcomes for a new community space in southeast NSW.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QRPC) initially planned to progress with concept designs for a Braidwood site at its meeting last month, but backed down after hearing of a community backlash.
QPRC has been working to redevelop the D&S Motors site at 88 Wallace Street and some of the nearby council depot site.
As part of the council’s long-term plans to move the depot, the sites would be transformed into shared spaces and affordable housing.
Instead, it decided to engage with residents (including through an online survey, written submissions from community groups and in-person meetings with community representatives) and rejig the plans.
According to council papers, the consultation heard concerns about the layout of the facilities, its intended uses and how heritage elements in the area could be protected.
“The revised concept design outcomes reflect this feedback by focusing on a covered activation precinct with markets and events space, seating, landscaped connections to the carpark, and public toilets positioned at the rear,” the documents state.
“This [is] a good balance of meeting community expectations with project scope, heritage constraints, and available funding.”
Under the original plans, there would be shaded seating, public toilets and community spaces. Existing underground fuel tanks would also be filled in and remediated.
Feedback released publicly included placing the toilets at the back of 88 Wallace Street (rather than the front) and that the proposed community spaces were too narrow.
People also called for QPRC to use design elements and materials that reflect nearby heritage locations (given that the site falls within the Braidwood Heritage Conservation Area) and to reuse existing structures.
According to an online survey, more than half of respondents didn’t want money spent on the existing mechanic pits, while another submission raised concerns about rubbish management.
Councillor Bill Waterhouse said the decision to delay adoption of the plans meant they could reflect on what Braidwood residents wanted for the site.
“This recommendation [to move with the amended plans] has encompassed those suggestions that came from the community,” he said.
“Good on you, community, thank you [for your involvement].”
However, several suggestions – such as the addition of a repair cafe, meeting rooms or a museum – were noted as beyond the scope of the project.
During the meeting, councillors also voted to rezone land on Wallace and Ryrie streets in Braidwood, to clear the way for construction of the public carpark.
Councillor Ross Macdonald also said expanded carparking would hopefully bring more visitors to Braidwood.
“[The existing] limit to parking [could mean] those who did want to stop and couldn’t may keep going,” he said.
“It’s not an ideal situation for the town, which, in peak periods, relies on that income – and hell, it’s not an ideal situation for people who miss out on a Braidwood adventure, too.”
The meeting also heard the next stage is preparing a development application (DA), and ongoing consultation with a focus group.
This DA would likely be evaluated by an independent assessor (instead of QPRC, given its involvement in the process), council documents state.
Further information on the project can be found on the council’s website.
