Restaurants, retailers, art – what’s next for Murray Bridge’s CBD?
The city’s council wants your suggestions on how to attract residents and visitors to Bridge Street and the surrounding area.
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What can be done to revitalise the heart of Murray Bridge?
That’s the question the city’s council is asking at the moment as it launches another round of consultation about Bridge Street and the central business district.
A workshop will be held at the new Murraylands Skills Centre from 4-6pm next Wednesday, and an online survey is now open.
Over the past decade, Murray Bridge has had a revamp of Sixth Street, new public artworks such as the fountain next to the town hall, and a spruce-up of under-used spaces.
The construction of a $45 million hotel did a lot to improve Bridge Street’s image, too.
What should we do next to attract residents and visitors to the main drag, asked council CEO Heather Barclay?
“The CBD activation and place-making project (aims) to identify the future needs of those who work or visit the CBD, and create a common vision for what our future city will look like,” she said.
“Council has acted quickly to implement one of the recommendations made by the community, which was the establishment of the recently opened Murraylands Skills Centre and co-working hub.
“Now we want the community to help us prioritise the delivery of other policies and actions to bring new life to the CBD.”
Locals support locals. Your support helps Murray Bridge News tell important local stories.
A previous round of consultation identified that the CBD needed to be vibrant and welcoming, to reflect the city’s “rich cultural mix” and to attract people at all times of the day “with a diverse mix of businesses set within high quality, safe and accessible streets and public spaces”.
Some key problems were keeping the city from that goal, business and property owners suggested:
- Too many vacant buildings on Bridge Street
- Not enough main-street retailers
- Lack of a major drawcard for visitors
- Dark and empty at night and on weekends
However, there were things to like as well, including Sixth Street, the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge Regional Gallery, an abundance of through traffic and the CBD’s closeness to the riverfront.
What should be next: low-rise apartments, development of the old Ridley mill, a gateway-style artwork up by the traffic lights?
What do you think?
- Have your say: Attend the workshop from 4-6pm next Wednesday, November 8 at the Murraylands Skills Centre, 20 Bridge Street, Murray Bridge; or complete the survey at letstalk.murraybridge.sa.gov.au by midnight on November 22.
Locals support locals. Your support helps Murray Bridge News tell important local stories.
