Goya Dmytryshchak
A permanent pedestrian plaza with lawns and sand could be developed in the Esplanade at Altona under new concept designs proposed for the beach precinct.
Hobsons Bay council is seeking community feedback on all ideas included in three designs it has released for consultation.
All three include a pedestrian promenade in the Esplanade, between Bent and Pier streets, but one design proposes a temporary street closure with removable bollards.
For the past two years, the council has closed the stretch of road to vehicles over summer and installed street furniture, beach boxes and a table tennis set to create a pop-up park.
Two of the new designs include permanently converting the area into a promenade ranging from four-10 metres, with grass slopes meeting the seawall, and the seawall broadening out to create terraces for sitting and sunbathing.
Other ideas include removing some of the parking spaces in Pier Street to widen the footpaths, and the revitalisation of Weaver Reserve.
Mayor Colleen Gates said while one of the concepts proposed little change, the other two would significantly change the precinct and traffic movement in the area.
“There may be positives and negatives in each and we want to hear all of it so that the final concept is in keeping with how the community want to see and interact with the precinct for years to come,” she said.
“These plans are bold and innovative and our hope is that it will strike the balance of complementing the retail and cafe businesses in this busy precinct, encouraging visitation to the popular Altona beach, all the while maintaining the village feel that makes Altona special.”
Other ideas in the plans include creating mounds in Weaver Reserve and creating new entries to Altona beach at the end of Pier Street and at Webb Street.
Feedback is being invited until August 23. Details:participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/altonabeachprecinct
