Altona’s Pier Street will become a pedestrian-only mall for outdoor dining and entertainment under a Hobsons Bay council proposal to permanently close part of the shopping strip to traffic.
Concept designs for what the area could look like have been developed and council is asking community is to have its say on what it wants to see as part of the feature site between Queen Street and Blyth Street.
Pier Street has been closed between Queen and Blyth streets since the pandemic, when it was used to allow more outdoor dining.
As reported by Star Weekly, in late 2023, council surveyed traders, residents and the broader community about the future of outdoor dining in the municipality. Almost three quarters of respondents said they
were ‘very supportive’ of permanently closing the Pier Street feature site area.
Council used the feedback to create concept designs, which include examples of what could form part of the feature site, including tree plantings, children’s activities and public artworks.
The concept designs also propose extending footpaths between Blyth Street and Railway Street South, bringing the road, parallel car parking spots and the footpath with outdoor dining parklets to the same level.
The concept designs were endorsed by councillors during council’s August 13 meeting.
To enable the feature site, the road would need to be permanently closed.
As part of this process, council is also seeking community submissions about this permanent closure.
Mayor Matt Tyler said the feedback showed their was support for the permanent closure of this section of Pier Street to enable it to become a thriving outdoor dining and entertainment spot.
“There are some great options about what the feature site can become, so this is an opportunity for the community to help shape the next stage of the design process,” he said.
The concept designs can be viewed on council’s website, with feedback accepted until Friday, September 13.
Details: participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
