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What types of public spaces and activities would draw you to enjoy Hunter Street more?
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Comment 1 4 Jun 2010, 2:08 PM
Don't want to see dead spaces for the sake of open space what we need from our public spaces is community spaces that get used nothing worse then a vacant lot. Need to draw people in allow them to interact with each other and encourage the community to take ownership of the tranquil and beautiful spaces
Comment 2 4 Jun 2010, 3:38 PM
Hunter Street is not a place in itself. The analogy of the 'jewel' used on this website is not plausible - rather the street should be seen as the 'string' off which the jewels themselves hang.
Provisions should therefore be made to facilitate new, and strengthen existing activity nodes (jewels) along Hunter Street.
Nodes should have clearly identifiable unique activity types - these should be reinforced - for example by use of a commercial, government, cultural, leisure, health or educational anchor, around which the node can develop and strengthen its identity(much like the Civic Precinct).
Nodes should have a mix of day more…
Comment 2.1 9 Jun 2010, 12:57 PM
This would work so much better without the rail line past Civic. That would allow connection with alternate areas of interest on either side of Hunter Street. Sadly I think we are better off working out what we can do with the rail in place though so I think the Civic and Market precincts have to step up and play a role. Perhaps stringent traffic calming measures in those areas would make them more attractive.
Comment 2.1.1 11 Jun 2010, 9:29 AM
I agree that the rail line should be cut, but unfortunately Newcastle has something of a phenomenon wherein any time someone suggests we change something, fifty pressure groups spring up like mushrooms against it. I think the logical places to kill the railway line would be either inside the junction between the Newcastle and Maitland lines at Broadmeadow (which is a huge area of dead space CityRail owns but never uses), or in that vacant lot next to Wickham (which would require a rebuild on the rail crossing there, something the local council/state government would not appreciate since it's the only thing on the rail line they've changed in the past 20 years).
Comment 2.1.1.1 12 Jun 2010, 10:31 AM
I agree Lachlan but the rail line the only issue, we can work around it. Too often it has overshadowed progress. I think we should let it go and work out how to make our city function with it in place. That way all the passion on both sides of the rail debate could be positively focused on fixing the city
Comment 2.1.1.1.1 17 Jun 2010, 4:46 PM
The Save Our Rail group will only tolerate plans which incorporate heavy rail plus other options. This is counterproductive to getting the best situation possible.
I liken Newcastle's heavy rail terminus at Newcastle to having Central Station in Sydney at Circular Quay. A heavy rail system cutting east and west Sydney CBD? Uhuh! Sydneysiders swap transport all the time. Why are we so precious about no changing?
Light rail should be our only option using the current rail lines. No ripping it out. No buses. Just the best option and a consensus view it seems from recent discussions in local press.
Comment 2.1.1.1.1.1 17 Jun 2010, 8:31 PM
You must change trains when you catch a train from Central to Nowra. The electrified line extends to Kiama, where passengers must cross the platform, where there is another diesel train waiting. It seemed perfectly fine to me, and took not much longer than a standard stop.
I'm all for light rail in the CBD in place of heavy rail.
Old European cities don't have their train stations in the oldest parts of the cities, and they have very high public transport use and good accessibility.
Comment 2.1.1.1.1.2 18 Jun 2010, 6:35 PM
It seems that much is forgotten or misconstrued in this debate. I'm sure Sydneysiders would not accept an uprooting of a main form of transport to ben replaced with another over the same corridor. Those who believe in light rail or indeed that any government are going to spend around 650 million dollars to replace one system with another over the same alignment are living an unrealistic dream. It has taken more than 10 years of heavy lobbying to get a lift at Cardiff Station. This lift is a high priority!!. Is anyone honestly expecting a government to put up more…
Comment 2.1.1.1.1.2.1 20 Jun 2010, 6:27 PM
What uprooting? My impression is that light rail will run on the tracks in place. Just less of them possibly but with the possibility of merging with road traffic and pedestrians. We are bound by legislation on heavy rail and with good reasons. Heavy rail can't stop quickly nor is it designed to. It therefore doesn't merge with other forms of transport.
There seem to be a number of facts and arguements blended in your comment judogazza45.
Comment 2.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 21 Jun 2010, 12:45 PM
hooha It seems you have not read my comment. Yes, heavy rail would be replaced by another form of transport, be it light rail, buses or whatever. Is it not the same?? As for heavy rail. It travels along the corridor at 80kmh so yes, the distance required to stop is greater but then is not speed one of the advantages of heavy rail? Light rail travels much slower hence a shorter stopping distance. We can't have both. Please don't underestimate the distance required for heavy rail to stop when travelling at the same speed as light rail. Much the same distance actually.
Comment 2.1.1.1.2 18 Jun 2010, 12:14 AM
Everyone is very focused on "Newcastle" CBD - and doesn't see an aspect I think is important. Newcastle is a regional centre - people used to come from Maitland, Cessnock, etc to see doctors in the city and shop, etc.We have lost or killed that drawcard. You may not realise it but people also come from Nelson Bay, Lemon Tree and Raymond Tce. These folks park at the Stockton ferry, catch the train from Newcastle and go to shows in Sydney and medical facilities. Many of these folks used to go to Wolf St cinema also and eat in town. That's also a casualty.
Think about what could attract these people in - there is a wider pool than you're considering.
Comment 2.1.1.1.2.1 9 Jul 2010, 11:11 AM
I agree with you totally.
We need a trip into town to be exciting and we need the transport to get there. Access should be extremely important. Encouraging visitors in by foot is far more desirable than heavy traffic congestion.
Hunter Street was once the Hub of Newcastle and after many years of being a disgrace or dark stain on our city it is finally showing signs of rejuvenation and life but we have a long way to go to improve this part of town.
This area should be high class or up market, with street side cafés, respectable wine more…
Comment 2.1.2 17 Jun 2010, 5:39 PM
I strongly disagree with cutting the railway line, in part because doing so would not solve the severance problem, and because it would exacerbate existing traffic and parking problems. The severance is a combination of both railway lines and roads. Hunter Street, Scott St and Wharf Road all separate the foreshore and Honeysuckle from other spaces such as Wheeler Place. I believe that a better solution than removing the railway lines and strangling the roads would be to use the solution that we already have between the Hunter St mall and Queens Wharf, pedestrian bridges. Not only would a series more…
Comment 2.1.2.1 17 Jun 2010, 8:10 PM
Bridges of the kind needed to cross rail lines have multiple steps and are difficult for elderly or mobility impaired folk to use. They are also dangerous in wet weather. They also provide opportunity for fools to throw and drop projectiles.
Cutting the rail line and creating a green corridor (light rail overhead?) would provide a flat, easily used link between the business district and the harbour.
Comment 2.1.2.1.1 17 Jun 2010, 9:31 PM
I suggest that you go and have a look at the bridge between the Hunter Street mall and Queens Wharf. None of the problems you describe exist with this bridge. The bridge ramps up from the mall without any steps, goes over Scott St, the railway lines and Wharf Road. At the Queens Wharf end, it has a turnback ramp (a zig-zag arrangement that meets the maximum slope specified for a wheelchair accessible ramp, with stairs as an alternative to that ramp. The whole bridge is covered with an awning and has clear plastic panelling along both sides, keeping out the weather and preventing anything from being thrown off the bridge, while providing panoramic views from an elevated vantage point.
Removing the railway line, whether you put light rail overhead or underground, will not solve the severance issue created by the roads, particularly once you add the extra cars and buses that will be needed to replace the trains.
Comment 2.1.2.1.2 18 Jun 2010, 12:19 AM
I would suggest you visit Queensland or Victoria for comparisons - most bus and train stations have lifts now. NSW is just so sad - especially Newcastle.
Demand more - become a swinging voter Newcastle and the city might catch up.
Comment 2.1.2.1.2.1 18 Jun 2010, 1:12 PM
Almost right, almost. But becoming a swinging voter? One of the reasons that Newcastle doesn't get much money from the government is that we're a safe Labor seat, for better or for worse. The stability is nice, and I am a leftie myself, but it means a severe lack of pork and barrel. Nevertheless, I'd rather have party stability than barrels of pork; if we want the cash, we'll just have to work for it.
Comment 2.2 22 Jun 2010, 1:43 PM
Hunter St would be much more lively if people were travelling along it by foot and by bicycle rather than sealed up inside their vehicles behind tinted windows. Cyclists and walkers stop to talk, stop to look at things, and recognise each other as they pass. A walking and cycling street is much more human than a car street. Lets allocate safe space on the road for cyclists to invite them in. It may mean a few less parking spaces but is worth it.
Comment 2.2.1 23 Jun 2010, 10:56 AM
This is a good idea in general, but I think that in the case of Hunter Street at least it would be better to improve the footpaths (which are very wide but not really flat enough to cycle on) and mark separate cycling and pedestrian lanes there. In most of the great cycling cities the bikes go along the paths rather than the road.
Comment 3 15 Jun 2010, 3:21 PM
No single event or activity is going to draw crowds to the Hunter St precinct. A festival or other activity might bring people there for a day, but long-term rejuvenation is necessary.
Ongoing reinvigoration of the retail offer in the area is necessary, however it will need to offer a point-of-difference, rather than competing with the giant malls at Kotara and Charlestown. Unique retail and vibrant cafes such as those found on Darby St will be key.
Integrating public transport is essential, as is opening the mall onto the surrounding parks and waterfront by providing attractive and pleasant access points for people to move between areas such as Honeysuckle and Hunter Street.
Comment 4 17 Jun 2010, 4:49 PM
Hunter Street should be an Avenue that leads us to worthwhile destinations. There needs to be open spaces to green the city and provide recreation and places of peace. In Paris almost 30 percent of its area is given to open space.
For the Mall to become a focal point it must be renovated to a standard that give patrons of Westfield and Charlestown Square another retail option. One way to make it more pedestrian friendly is to remove the current paving and replace it with a surface like that used in Pitt St Sydney or even Wagga. The excuse that pavers have to be used because of subsidence in that area is specious given multistory buildings are going up in that area. A new surface will help attract more customers.
Hunter St must be made safer so people like me can walk there at night. There is really no reason to delay introducing CCCT cameras to capture illegal behaviour.
Comment 4.1 17 Jun 2010, 7:05 PM
I've said in other threads that Newcastle Mall should NOT be the next Westfield, and I stand by that. It's too far from most of the city and can't possibly provide anything unique as a shopping centre. The CBD needs to be a unique place, not a place where you find things that are closer for everyone south of Broadmeadow.
Comment 4.1.1 20 Jun 2010, 4:45 PM
Exactly - when the bulk of the population now lives west/south of the line that extends from northcott drive to hanbury street, why would people travel past charlestown, kotara, glendale, wallsend, jesmond and waratah to buy the SAME merchandise and have the same shopping experience, they can have in those places, that are closer to where they live? I think we should be putting more unique things in the city that are an attraction in themselves, but we certainly don't want anything like the patrons of even one of those centres turning up in the cbd in their cars! the roads are already clogged - why would you want to give people MORE reason to use them! There is not enough parking for the cars that are already there. Improve public transport and get office workers out of their cars for the last few kilometres at least, and you might have some capacity for more shoppers - until then - an attempt to attract more shoppers is futile.
Comment 5 17 Jun 2010, 6:53 PM
Today I was in The Mall and I am very disappointed at the lack of sunlight in the winter. I would spend more time in winter if there is good clean seats available in good sunny positions. Those two aspects is all that is needed for me to spend more time there.Another thing that invites a person to spend time there is access to clean water. This encourages you to eat because you can wash your hands. Also a simple thing like cleaning bird droppings is important.The new advertising sign near DJ's is crooked it looks silly!
Comment 5.1 17 Jun 2010, 8:48 PM
I was wondering about those signs! They're all slightly crooked - is it intentional? If so, then why?
Comment 6 17 Jun 2010, 8:55 PM
I know they aren't technically public spaces, but the Renew Newcastle spaces are great! There are not enough of them however, to spend an afternoon wandering between them and talking to the operators.
I love the local creative talent that is shown in these places that would put any boring shopping centre to shame. I hate Westfield centres because they are predictable, fake, tacky, unwelcoming and don't enhance social or cultural growth.
Most people who spend alot of time in these places on Thursdays and Saturdays are shallow and uncultured anyway, so I would rather let them continue shopping at Charlestown and Kotara, allowing the CBD to become a creative hub that intrigues and motivates thinkers and doers.
This does not mean that I am against GPT however - I like their Melbourne Central development - it is classy.
My point is that I don't want Newcastle to aspire to become a 'Westfield city'. Newcastle is better than that.
Comment 6.1 18 Jun 2010, 6:03 AM
Actually I know a vital reason to clear the railway track and open access to the foreshore.In winter time it will be wonderful to walk straight through to access good warm sunshine and clean water plus seating. This opens central Newcastle to a whole new style of living.The scope for people to enjoy the city more is wonderful. It will bring the aspect of Darling Harbour but with a Newcastle flavour.
Comment 6.2 19 Jun 2010, 2:06 PM
I agree with Byron. Newcastle will only florish if it becomes a worthy destination. If GPT indeed do the city development, they need to get it right. People will come if there is a point of difference in the city. Unique independant quirky shops and eateries along with small wine bars and intimate music venues. Another westfield full of the same mass produced crap wont draw in the crowds. In any case Newcastle deserves better. When the cruise ships arrive, they want to experience whats local - handcrafts, food and entertainment in a vibrant place.
Comment 7 18 Jun 2010, 6:02 PM
First get rid of smokers and petrol/diesel fumes. Add electric (frequent) public transport. Crack down on anti-social elements. Then people will be more inclined to patronise the cafes, restaurants & other small businesses.
A street where vomit, urine and rubbish is too common will continue to turn customers away & disgust tourists. The gridlock of private vehicles is partly because we feel safer if we don't have to walk far.
Comment 8 19 Jun 2010, 11:22 AM
The world has changed since the 1970's and prior. Charlestown Sqare, Kotara, Glendale, Walsend, Jesmond & Internet Shopping did not exist. You can't solve the problem using the same ideas that created the problem. Southbank in Brisbane was the old Expo Site. Now a huge riverside parkland with underground parking beneath the park and escalators bringing you to the surface. Yes it was expensive yes it is successful, yes it was different. Newcastle needs to retain its heritage at the East End. Sydney has what Newcastle doesn't - Lots of Office Workers. Office workers spend lots of money, cafe's restaurants, more…
Comment 8.1 20 Jun 2010, 4:36 PM
I agree the world has changed since the 70's and the centre of Newcastle ought to be positioned west of where it now is. Part of the reason for this touches on the reference to officer workers. There are lots of office workers in Newcastle - there would have to be several thousand. I believe, including retail employees there are 15,000 people commuting to the city each day. The problem is that most of the offices are west of darby st and the people who work in those offices have no need to travel east of their destination - but more…
Comment 8.2 22 Jun 2010, 1:46 PM
The height limit for West Newcastle in the current LEP is 90m or about 30 stories. That would allow so much new space that the road system would never cope with the cars. It is only possible with strong public transport, walking and cycling.
Comment 9 19 Jun 2010, 8:33 PM
I suggest 'no further public spaces' and a hold on development in West Hunter Street. We already have the 'east end' taken up by considerable parks.
Central to this debate is the proposed green/closed rail corridor and GPT development, which unfortunately is a fundamental planning error, because the city needs to redevelop it's centre to the west; at about Union street/ 'Newcastle West area' and because the current 'Newcastle CBD' is too constrained by both the hill and the 'railway line' (public transport is still essential for the present). I strongly suggest that the area between 'Hunter Street' and 'King more…
Comment 9.1 20 Jun 2010, 7:15 AM
If we are talking movement then may I suggest to hurry up with gaining access to the foreshore from CBD. I spend a lot of time in the mall and I am mighty cold.I sat and studied the current situation a few days ago.There is literally no good sunshine in the mall for anybody.With access through directly from the mall it invites people such as families, disabled, elderly, workers on a lunchbreak, quick routes to the foreshore this is guaranteed traffic that is not occurring now. It will bring the look of the city up instantly and encourage good trade.
Comment 9.1.1 20 Jun 2010, 7:23 AM
If I may continue,lets look at the potential traffic from passenger liners ie tourists coming from ships, pray they stay.With good development in the CBD it also provides good traffic(foot) from this angle. This all lends to a Newcastle style atmosphere on par if not better if we are careful with Sydney.Hopefully if the powers at the top are clever which they are at times we will not develop the crash "hotdog" come circus feel that Sydney has at times.Bye the way did you know there are aspects of the Hunter R. that are unique to Earth!
Comment 9.1.1.1 20 Jun 2010, 7:30 AM
Finally lets not forget the everyday trade that will arise from a good upgrade and development. Quality shops will stay and new ones will come in. To my vision a strong cultural center worthy of this city will form and become a good basis for the future. My suggestion here and now is that the people who are trying to stop this are ill informed.We see around us as we travel up Hunter St incredibly interesting architecture that seems waiting to come alive. What is happening in the West end is very exciting and it will merge beautifully.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1 20 Jun 2010, 7:39 AM
Some people in this city are trying to stop something very exciting based on some sort of bogeous "religious" belief about rail which is "airy fairy". Let me ask how many catch the train in that stretch. A close family tie of mine does catch it regularly and that person says they are literally by themselves all the time.They are quite willing to go another way,I know for a fact it looses money.How can such poorly educated people slow down something so important.Personally I feel it is akin to crime, social crime.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1 21 Jun 2010, 1:29 PM
My goodness, what a load of self righteous tripe. To describe the pro rail lobby, and I assume they are who you are talking about as poorly educated is an incredibly arrogant statement. I am sure the pro rail lobby are as concerned as anyone else as to the state of the CBD. This concern is NOT the domain of any particular group. As for the number of people who travel by train, it is often claimed that very few travel by that means but as one who has an intimate knowledge of the number of passengers travelling by train, the claims are an oft quoted falsehood. Please feel free to attend Newcastle Station at any time and check the numbers.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1 21 Jun 2010, 4:19 PM
It boars me when people give out information that implies there are more people on that stretch then there is.It is a fact it runs at a loss and when that is put out there for the public to see then some say it is not so, where does these fairy passengers come from?.I am local and I travel via the railway every day. Why do you persist in saying black is white and white is black.There is something wrong here.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 21 Jun 2010, 4:55 PM
I suggest you spend some time at Newcastle Station in the morning and watch the arrival of the service from Telarah at 8.24am. This service had to be built up to 4 cars to cater for the numbers travelling. And of course, as you travel by train every day so will see you are not alone on your journey. It has been said previously that the trains are LITERALLY empty. Do people understand the meaning of the word "literal"? As for running at a loss, you will find almost ALL public transport runs at a loss, be it government or more…
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 21 Jun 2010, 7:25 PM
What fix our city didn't want to happen in their meeting the other week was for SOR to do their usual trick and disrupt the meeting. The meeting by definition was about fixing our city not sitting on our hands and doing nothing.
Save our rail's tactics are well known..taking any chance they can get to muddy the waters of reasoned debate and confuse the issue, they are narrow minded and have no real answers or vision for this city other than keeping the heavy rail.
This issue will not go away and eventually common sense will prevail and Newcastle will at last move forward to a future without The Great Barrier Rail.
FIX OUR CITY!
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 21 Jun 2010, 8:01 PM
There is no argument in this case.The heavy rail is blocking access to the foreshore hence preventing development and progress that has to have access to the foreshore.Easy access to this is vital at the moment it is very difficult for elderly,families with young children, disabled and lunch time workers to get down there easily.At the same time you need to transport people from Wickham.Light rail will solve all these problems and many more.Also if there are other things like great passenger liners coming in,do you want them to march around your heavy train corridor to get to the mall? Get Out!Filth!
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 21 Jun 2010, 8:09 PM
Its great to throw this and that train into the works. Oh yeah I saw it,it had sooo many people on it!! Look lets get real and do a proper study of tickets sold on all these trains cause mate that gives the picture.But I think we are just waiting for the approval of some $ here and when the cash is in the pocket I am sure it will be blasted to kingdom come.Whoop te do to that day cause it ain't workin now!There is plenty of work happening there now anything will be better than what it looked like and lets hope a few trams will roll.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 21 Jun 2010, 9:10 PM
Please let me know where the 650 million dollars will come from to pay for your grandios plans. Typically the anti rail lobby resort to denigration or petty comments when things do not go their way. Please offer some constructive answers to the problem rather than perpetuating myths!!! The fact that people do not all buy tickets is a government decision, not one of CityRail. It is also symptomatic of today's society, one where only one opinion counts and where people are foolish enough to put all their eggs in one basket without looking at the bigger picture. You also appear to be supporting development of the rail corridor by your comments. You fail to explain HOW light rail will solve the problems, particularly if it is to run over the same corridor. Seems like swapping apples for apples to me.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1 22 Jun 2010, 6:27 AM
You people are so stuck in your ways.The fact that something loses $ is accepted in the same manner as we breath if this was the case worldwide then so be it.However some countries manage to run successful transport systems and make $.This attitude of yours has formed the basis of this society and it is how it runs.When it comes to transport success we seem to run last and the way that is accepted mirrors its success the quicker there is a change the better.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.2 22 Jun 2010, 6:19 AM
Piak
Could it be that we have to change our mindset from the car and get into public transport? What mode of private and public transport do you envisage to service the CBD and perhaps more importantly what attractors should the CBD have to motivate people to use those transport systems?
I for one believe the future lies in efficient cost effective public transport.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.2.1 22 Jun 2010, 6:59 AM
OK cut the driftwood. To establish a successful transport system here in my view you need to study first hand the successful ones around the world in depth.You need to go to these places with clever people and watch what they do. They may even show you stuff.Look at Quantas it does succeed but it is in constant contact with overseas competitors. Our rail is not so you have to go over and watch.Our council seemed to be heading in that way by going to Melbourne to look at their tram system, that is spot on folks!
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1 22 Jun 2010, 10:20 AM
I just want to bring up how much the Councils and Government is saving by putting up these sights where people put in suggestions let alone the Newspaper it is a total scam right across the board put up to save money because the powers in positions high up don't need their 'second' in command any more they get it for free.Let them pay for the trams the with the money the have saved. As if the public don't know.All I say is watch out there are many ways to 'skin' a cat.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.3 22 Jun 2010, 2:50 PM
Piak, please ignore Judogazza45. From my experience on these forums before, this person is adamant in their opinion to oppose the removal of the rail line. However, as far as the NCC, HDC and local member are concerned, the rail has to be removed. It will happen, just a matter of when.
Comment 9.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.3.1 22 Jun 2010, 5:42 PM
Lara many thanks,sounds great.Personally I will crack a bottle of champagne when she goes.If we end up with a good deal,who's complaining.The complaining personalities will most probably want thanks.I have always said it's good for the brain to argue and debate as long as no one gets hurt. I off course am unbeatable.It is nice to get a pleasant nice person now and then.Thanks.
Comment 9.2 20 Jun 2010, 8:11 PM
Right on the money citz, the east end (east of Darby St)needs to be developed as medium/high density residential with a perimeter of recreational areas. If the area has full time population then it will be alive all the time. A genuine need for local shopping areas,a lesser need for large shopping mall style development. An eastern suburb with people happy to live in their own area, bus/lightrail to the CBD and beyond (Charlestown/Kotara etc.).
Comment 10 21 Jun 2010, 7:07 PM
Public spaces in which the facades of privately owned buildings are refreshed and maintained to give a sense of vitality and a sense of renewal. Unfortunately, the value of renewal and refreshment appears not to resonate with property owners as a core strategy to increasing visitation, improving business performance and stiulatinging demand for commercial space within the CBD.
Comment 11 21 Jun 2010, 8:49 PM
Like it or not the world has changed since Roselands in Sydney opened in 1965. Newcastle people now shop at large suburban shopping centres where they don't have to walk more than 100m from their car which they park in a free mostly covered carpark. They shop in a weather-proof environment which is privately-owned, enabling the owners to kick out the undesirable element which makes Hunter Street a no-go zone for me. Newcastle CBD fails the above criteria. We will only make progress by making inner Newcastle into a vibrant recreational destination by the sea/harbour - see Mooloolaba, St. Kilda for example. Bulldoze all of the crappy shops and office buildings west of Crown Street and replace them with modern medium density housing and modern commercial buildings. The very few buildings with historical and architechtural merit could be incorporated into new deveopments. The rail line is the vital link to the City's visitors further up the valley - an easy trip from the swelter of summer to the best beaches on the East Coast of NSW.
Comment 12 8 Jul 2010, 2:50 PM
I bekieve that the Hunter street mall and associated areas would benefit from more open space in the way of seating areas with some form of cover and sun exposure place in strategic sites. These sites would need to be in well lit aeras close to shops and busineses where people are likely to congregate. I also believe that higher level closed circuit camera/monitors will also enhance visitor experiences along both the mall and Hunter street.
Comment 13 8 Jul 2010, 2:54 PM
The activites that may be sucessful in the mall and Hunter street are activities which will have the effect of the legitimnate users of these areas reclaiming the street. Activites which are dynamic and designed to encourage participation. These could range from buskers/jugglers to art exhibitions, car shows etc. The mall area could be turned over to sucg groups ant no coast and this would encourage some shopkeepers/businesses to remain open to provide services such as food and drink etc
