PROJECTS of the highest priority have been named in a
multi-million dollar plan to radically transform Swan Hill’s riverfront.
Swan
Hill Rural City Councillors unanimously endorsed the Swan Hill Riverfront
Masterplan at a meeting on Tuesday.
The plan will act as a guide to future
development of the riverfront.
The Masterplan outlines a host of potential
developments, including a conference centre, apartments, cultural centre, water
play park, tavern, providore and skate park.
While individual projects have
not been costed, consultants estimated over 30 years a total of $40m to $55m
would be required to realise the entire vision.
Of this, $5-10 million would
come from government funding and $35-$45 million from private investment
opportunities.
Council in its 2013-14 budget has set aside $780,500 for
riverfront projects and leveraging for State and Federal grants.
A handful of
projects were identified as short-term priorities by council, including:
– A
pedestrian crossing over the railway, aligned with McCrae Street.
– A ‘Cadell
Wharf’ built upstream of 10 Steps in Riverside Park; and,
– Converting
council-owned lodges (currently used by schools) near the Spoons Café, into
eco-accomodation.
For more on this story, see Friday’s edition of The Guardian (5/7/13).
