A PROPOSED median strip for Two Wells’ main street has been slammed by local business owners, who believe it could jeopardise their customer base.
Adelaide Plains Council residents have had their say on the council’s draft concept plans for the Two Wells main street upgrade project, with responses to the public consultation period discussed at a special meeting last week.
Of the 14 public responses the council received, 11 took exception with installing the proposed three-metre wide “nature strip” in the middle of the street.
Multiple business owners, residents and the Two Wells Regional Action Team were amongst the concerned responders who raised trepidations over access to local businesses.
Two Wells resident Keith Battye, in his submission, said “very little” discussion was held between the council and business owners when developing the concept plans.
“Being (a) resident here for over 20 years, I have seen some beneficial main street improvements but trees down the middle of the road will be the death knell for existing or future Two Wells businesses,” he said.
“The Two Wells main street is barely wide enough at times for the normal traffic now without the additional traffic that will increase with more population.
“Bulk deliveries to the existing IGA and Fodder stores would be almost impossible and other businesses would be deterred from starting up. Emergency Police response would be severely impacted by the tree strip.”
Fellow resident Maria Aunger said the plans would see Two Wells lose its “country style of living”.
“This whole concept plan appears to be pushing Two Wells towards a cosmopolitan/yuppy style of town, aimed to attract young families to our area,” she said.
“Is this the future of Two Wells? Is there any consideration for the people already living here, especially those who don’t have young children?
“We moved here and we remained here, for the country style of living, because we love it. Aren’t the people moving into the town of Two Wells coming for that lifestyle too?”
Another 12 responses were gleaned from members of the Two Wells Community Reference Group, which were more positive about the overall project.
“I really love the median strip down the centre of the Main Street with the tree plantings and pedestrian refuge,” one response read.
“I believe it will define the street, make it much easier and safer for pedestrian traffic and add a whole new dimension of beautification.”
At last Tuesday’s meeting, councillors elected to note the results of the consultation, with a further decision on the future of the project to be discussed at APC’s June meeting later this month.
Councillor Kay Boon said she had received complaints about the proposed median strip, but supported it being included in the final design.
“Do we see light industry still being in the centre of the township of Two Wells?” she said.
“Is it something we need to start talking to them (businesses) about moving outside the prime centre of the township.”
The feedback has been sent back to planners JensenPLUS, which will update the plans and present them at the June meeting.
APC misses out on $900,000 grant for main street
ADELAIDE Plains Council has missed out on more than $900,000 in funding to further its Two Wells main street upgrade project.
The council was notified on May 25 it was unsuccessful in winning $904,000 in State Government funding through the Planning and Development Fund to advance the project, the first stage of which is expected to cost around $1.4 million.
Works are set to begin later this year to kickstart the project, with APC already receiving a $700,000 to complete some upgrades before Christmas.
The unsuccessful grants comes as Two Wells business owners and residents slammed initial concept plans for the revitalised main street, particularly relating to a proposed median strip.
During a special meeting last Tuesday, chief executive officer James Miller said the a high volume of applicants made it difficult to obtain funding.
He added the council was looking to apply for the second round of the same funding program.
“I believe there was an absolute weight of applications that had long been in with government over many years,” he said.
“Jenny (external grants writer Jenny Fleming) has been in touch with the State Government and I believe there is a real appetite for us to put in that very same application a bit later on in the year.”
I detailed financial report on the breakdown of costs associated with the initial works later this year.
Councillor Margherita Panella said council needed to be across the financial aspects of the project.
“There has been some questions raised about our financial commitments and whether we’re using the $700,000 (for the initial works) correctly,” she said.
“It is grant funding, but at the end of the day we’re obligated to our ratepayers to be able to answer ‘what does that cost? Why did this cost so much?’.”