CBD Revitalisation Project – Feast Street upgrade

Jensen Plus have recently been engaged provide detailed design drawings for the Feast Street re-development, progressing the concept design drawings completed in 2022.

We are forming a stakeholder reference group to act as key advisors as we progress through this design phase. If you are interested in joining the Feast Street design reference group please complete the expression of interest form in the link below by 4pm 7 December 2023.

Please note, positions are limited and places on the reference group can’t be guaranteed.

Click here to complete the Expression of Interest form

Feedback was collected in late 2022 on a series of CBD-focused implementations attached to the Mildura CBD Plan 2020-2035. Developed by the experienced urban design and social planning consultancy Jensen PLUS, focused assessments around design and accessibility for the CBD have been conducted alongside an extensive period of stakeholder consultation.

More than 160 public submissions were received regarding these ideas and concepts, with the key themes identified including parking availability, support for more outdoor dining spaces, accessibility for the elderly and disabled, and ensuring the CBD becomes a greener space.

Developed as a CBD Revitalisation Project, an emerging series of concept designs were presented back to Mildura Rural City Council, which included a range of upgrade and development opportunities for prominent areas of the CBD. These are focused around key areas of consideration, including:

• Access and connectivity enhancements for residents and visitors
• Connecting the Mildura CBD to the Riverfront
• Economic development and investment attraction
• Improved amenity and wayfinding throughout the CBD
• Revitalisation and regeneration of public realms

As part of realising the vision attached to the Mildura CBD Plan 2020-2035, Council has packaged up a series of actions set out in the CBD plan to review the commercial supply, demand and configuration issues to deliver economic revitalisation to the Mildura CBD and broader municipality.

• Undertake an Economic Feasibility Study (Action 1E.1 of the Mildura CBD Plan)
• Develop an Investment Prospectus for the CBD (Action 1E.2 of the Mildura CBD Plan)
• Undertake a connectivity/permeability study with a focus on the mall and to the upper area of Langree Avenue (linkages to Action 1A.3 Langtree Avenue Placemaking Project, Action 3D.2 Integrational Connections Project)
• Commence the Langtree Avenue Placemaking Project (Action 1A.3) leading to adoption of concept plans/designs to deliver this project
• Commence the Feast Street Upgrade Project (Action 3C.3) leading to adoption of concept plans/designs to deliver this project

The Mildura CBD includes land from Seventh Street to Eleventh Street and from Walnut Avenue to San Mateo Avenue. The length of Deakin Avenue to Fifteenth Street is also included within the CBD boundary.

Initial estimates indicates a cost of $10million to deliver the preferred concept.

Council has committed the funds to commission architects to deliver a detailed, shovel ready final design for Feast Street. This is to be used to attract federal and state government funding required to deliver the project.

Council are currently assessing how this project can form part of a wider series of identified investable priorities for the Mildura CBD.

There is adequate supply of parking within the CBD, and Council has considered how carparks work in with the streetscape and affect the overall safety and accessibility of the CBD.

On-street parking in Feast Street will be reconfigured into a mix of parallel and 90-degree parking, with additional parking provided on nearby Seventh Street.’

Future opportunities to develop more carparking in the CBD are also being explored.

A range of enhancement and revitalisation opportunities are being considered, based on land assessment and future economic growth potential for the CBD. This includes significant ‘anchor’ land development priorities, high-level assessments for improvements to East-West connectivity, new community facilities, laneway designs and activation concepts, dedicated parking structures, additional and/or improved public amenities, landscaping/greening initiatives, and public art planning.

The overall vision is to establish a responsive, resilient and people-oriented centre for community life that is multi-purpose and supported by sustainable economic growth.

Improving Feast Street is a major opportunity to further strengthen connections to the riverfront, for example by making the walking route along Langtree Avenue better quality, and by improving wayfinding and signage.