Echunga Main Street Upgrade - Draft Concept Design Consultation

In acknowledging the important role that main streets play in supporting local economic development and fostering social inclusion and wellbeing, the Mount Barker District Council has continued to invest in the upgrade of main streets across the District.

First identified as a key community priority during the formulation of the Echunga Township Plan in 2019, Council has allocated funding to now prepare a concept design for the future upgrade of Echunga's main street.

Council staff and local design consultants, Clover Green Space, have been working with a Community/Stakeholder reference group, to develop some initial concept options for the main street upgrade. Council now seeks feedback from the broader Echunga community on the draft concept design to better understand the community's priorities for improvements to the street.

The project aims to deliver improvements across a range of areas, including pedestrian safety, the function of key intersections, improved environmental sustainability, providing areas for social interaction and street activity, and support for local economic development.

The project also has a particular focus on environmental sustainability and includes the capture and reuse of storm water, a reduction in hard paved surfaces and a significant increase in tree canopy coverage. These outcomes are further supported by an intention to underground power lines which run the length of the street, currently restricting the options for tree planting.

A significant aspect of the planned upgrade are plans to underground power lines along the southern side of the street, allowing for increased tree canopy cover and the reduction in hard paved surfaces. Council has registered an interest with the Power Line Environment Committee (PLEC), a grant funding agency which provides up to 66% funding grants to successful applicants. The undergrounding of power lines along the street provides the option to plant significantly larger street tress on both sides of the street, creating areas of shade and interest.

A slotted kerb allows storm water to be diverted into a rain garden (a planted swale), running along parts of the southern side of the street. The storm water will infiltrate into the soil along the rain garden, watering new street trees and small planted shrubs during heavy rain events. The concept design also includes a storage tank to capture excess storm water from the street during winter months to be stored and reused for irrigating plants along the street during in summer, enabling the street to be resilient to the effects of climate change for years to come.

Community consultation on the draft concept plan runs from the 11th September - 9th October and includes a Community drop-in session at Wandeen Uniting Church Hall on Saturday 23rd September 10am - 2pm. The drop-in session is a chance for the community to speak with Council staff to find out more about the project and to provide feedback on the upgrade of the street in person.

The draft concept plans can be viewed by clicking the link to the right of this page and you can provide your feedback in the following ways:

• Provide a quick response - are the plans on track or have they missed the mark;
• Complete the online survey - a questionnaire on various aspects of the main street design;
• Send us an email - if you have some more detailed feedback you would like to provide;
• Give us a call - call and speak directly with the project manager to provide your feedback;
• Attend the drop-in session - come and speak to Council staff and our design consultants on Saturday 23rd September.