HORSHAM could soon have an outdoor cinema, restaurants by the Wimmera River and regular night markets as part of a plan to revitalise the city’s centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Horsham Rural City Council is investigating ways to breathe new life into the city.
A report was presented to council at a meeting on Monday night after an extensive community engagement process.
Company Village Well led the engagement process, talking to residents and retailers about what they would like to see in the city.
Short-term priorities for council include creating an outdoor cinema, a temporary cafe on the river, and regular markets selling produce and craft or night food markets.
Other short-term projects include fairy lights in trees and art projections, banners in the main street, pots of flowers, and colourful paintings.
Medium-term projects include improving signs and upgrading town entrances, while long-term projects include creating a town square and permanent restaurants at the Wimmera River.
Cr David Grimble said while the population of Horsham was about 14,000 people, the city centre catered for about 70,000 people.
“There is a need to further enhance our city – in the past we have spent money on power line upgrades and pedestrian amenities,” he said.
Cr Mark Radford commended the work done so far on the project. “There are some big picture items, but there is also a whole list of smaller things that can be done right now,” he said.
The Village Well report showed the Wimmera River was an important asset that was underused.
Ideas for the river included restaurants, promenades and cycling tracks, and water activities such as paddle boats.
The need for a town square was also highlighted. The square could include greenery, a large screen for promotion and games, shops and cafes, and a play area.
Other ideas highlighted included Friday night shopping, pedestrianising Roberts Place, and a focus on outdoor dining spaces.
Technical services director John Martin said funding for short-term projects could be sourced from council’s car park development reserve, which contains $2.1 million.
“The aim of the project is to use the reserve funding as council’s contribution to grant funding, aiming to double the available money,” he said.
Mr Martin said an additional allocation of between $50,000 and $100,000 could be needed to get projects off the ground quicker.
