RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on the impending Maleny Streetscaping project.
A community forum on July 20 was an opportunity to give an update to the project, which has been delayed in part due to staffing issues.
Original calls for community feedback last year resulted in over 230 emails, letters and written responses.
Highest priorities included seating/places to meet, footpaths and accessibility, improved parking, trees and access to local businesses.
The overall streetscape concept plan is broken into four areas starting from the top of Maple Street down to just north of Teak St.
Design proposals include shade trees at five to 10 metre intervals, rain gardens, safer pedestrian crossing points and retail spillout zones to activate trading.
Sunshine Coast Council Division 5 Councillor Winston Johnston said the latest designs for a new look streetscape for the hinterland hub were well received at the forum and was now ready for further feedback.
“The elements included cooler shaded areas through street tree planting, safer and more accessible pathways and additional options for gathering, relaxing and soaking up the country atmosphere,” Cr Johnston said.
“We are on a journey to shape the next chapter of Maleny’s main street to ensure it’s a greener, safer place that brings our community together.
“You told us what is important to you during last year’s ‘Review and Refresh’ community engagement and since then we have listened and translated your voice into a design that remains bustling and welcoming for all.
“The streetscape improvements have been designed to ensure you feel safe day and night, encourage connection with cool, green and comfortable spaces to stop, sit and chat. “It was also important to have easy access to traders with traffic calming, better pathway connections and crossings to enable everyone within our community to safely enjoy Maple Street all year round.
“I encourage our residents, visitors, traders and community groups to take a look at the proposed plan and let us know if these improvements can become a foundation for our community.”
An online survey will be open until August 20, 2023. Please visit Sunshine Coast Council’s Have Your Say website.
The feedback obtained during the consultation period will allow council to better understand the preferences of the community.
The community engagement process will seek to prioritise the most important improvements to make within the available budget.
Have your say at:
haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/maleny-placemaking-and-streetscape-project
Email submissions to placemaking@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.
Provide feedback before August 20, 2023.
Detailed design and documentation is expected to be revealed by late 2023 before construction commences in July 2024.