CBD Revitalisation Project Continues to Progress
Published on 14 April 2025
Southern Grampians Shire Council resolved to seek further investigation on the state of the CBD London Plane Trees, to form a CBD Revitalisation project advisory group, and to implement a project management and maintenance strategy at last Wednesday night’s ordinary Council Meeting.
After consideration, Council accepted a resolution to further investigate the London Plane Trees and their impact upon the CBD. The decision was made to slow down the project to ensure complete and thorough consultation can be completed.
Councillors have asked the architect to revise the design to keep all but the most problematic Plane trees. The updated plan will also include details on how to remove and replace the troubled trees. To help guide the project, a CBD Project Advisory Group will be formed with representatives from local businesses, the wider community, Councillors and Council officers.
Recognising the importance of a thriving local economy, Council has also called for a project management strategy that ensures minimal disruption to businesses during construction. Council has asked officers to prepare a fifty-year maintenance strategy for the Plane trees, to ensure long-term sustainability and amenity in the CBD with a clear direction to retain existing Plane trees wherever possible.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the decision to seek further clarification on the CBD trees provides Council with an informed way forward.
“I would like to thank each and every person who spoke at Council meetings, provided feedback online or got involved to have their voices heard on this issue. This was a contentious issue that could easily have turned combative, but those championing these causes carried themselves with dignity and respect for one another. One thing to take away from this is that people really care about this town. We have heard not only from residents and business owners, but former residents, tourists and well-wishers from across the nation. It’s more than a little flattering to see how much love there is out there for Hamilton.
“We’ve consulted extensively with our community around the draft concept plans and what that would mean for the development of the Hamilton CBD including engaging our local business sector,” said Cr Heslin.
“Through this process, it’s become clear that this is not a decision that we need to rush. This is a highly emotional issue that deserves to be fully considered. We have asked that the architect revise the design to keep all but the most problematic Plane trees.
“To help keep everything on track, a CBD Project Advisory Group will be formed with representatives from across the community. A draft of how the group will operate will be presented to a Councillor Briefing in May.
“Council has also called for a project management strategy that ensures minimal disruption to businesses during construction. This was something that local businesses made clear was a concern and it’s something we want to get right first time.
“The damage the current trees cause to the infrastructure cannot be ignored with tree root systems undermining buildings, causing innumerable plumbing issues including overflowing toilets and sewage pipe issues, cracking glass in windows, leaves blocking spouts and affecting drainage of roofs, building cracking and defects which is an ongoing cost and concern to businesses and Council.
“By seeking further information from experts, this will allow the problematic trees to be identified, and a targeted plan developed to potentially remove the ones that need to go and maintain the ones that can be supported.
Southern Grampians Shire Council was presented with a public deputation at last night’s meeting from concerned business owners requesting the tree replacement as well as the consideration for reduction of future project impacts.
Cr Heslin said local business feedback was hard to ignore, “The deputation presented to us last night provided Councillors with important insight from those businesses who spend most of their time in the CBD.
“Our business owners see better than anybody the impact the tree damage has on their infrastructure and the maintenance required for their buildings to remain functional and safe for shoppers.
The CBD Revitalisation project will be broken up into three phases. Package one will see works in Gray Street, from Thompson Street to Brown Street, including roundabouts at both intersections and including the redevelopment of the plaza in front of the Commonwealth Bank.
The concept plans for package one provides recommendations to upgrade the existing road pavement and replace kerb and channel, footpaths, street furniture, lighting and trees with contemporary robust and sustainable elements that will both be aesthetically attractive and easy to maintain.
A variety of other environmental and sustainability considerations will be considered as part of the next stages of the project with a widened and lengthened footpath central activity zone, with better facilities for pedestrians and improved facilities for persons with disabilities.
The concept plans also include areas for public art which will be considered further as part of the Detailed Design Stage. The existing red brick footpath paving is set to be removed and replaced with a pallet of stone paving, laid on a reinforced concrete slab.
“We are attempting to activate huge changes in the Hamilton CBD which isn’t taken lightly,” said Cr Heslin. “We want to create an exciting and attractive CBD for residents to love and that makes visitors stay. To do that, we have had to make hard decisions around tree replacement. The community gave such enthusiastic feedback that we may have to find a compromise for this project.”
Following the Council Briefing on 29 January, the Concept Plans for package one were released for public consultation. As part of that consultation, a business engagement session was held in the Hamilton Cinema.
The designs were also available in the CBD shopfront, the Hamilton Library, Council’s Brown Street Customer Service Centre, and online via the Council website during the consultation period. All feedback was considered including a community petition which was presented to the March Council Meeting to advocate for tree retention.
“It is vital that Council continues to work towards achieving the vision of an upgraded civic streetscape that has a positive outcome for our residents and visitors. This will be achieved through the proposed upgrades to our CBD.
"We will continue to work with the community and local businesses to ensure impact of the revitalisation works are as minimal as possible while the project outcomes leave a lasting impressing,” concluded Cr Heslin.
For more information regarding the Hamilton CBD Revitalisation Project, visit our website. To stay connected to all things Council, consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter.
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