Published on Monday, 29 November 2010 at 12:00:00 AM
Modernising the Tom Price Shopping Mall will be the first step in the Shire’s Revitalisation Project, with work to replace and upgrade underground services in the Mall expected to kick-off in December 2010.
The first stage of upgrades will see the existing verandas removed and replaced with new canopies which will wrap around the eastern end of the Mall to create a new bus-stop, with vending machines and self cleaning public toilets installed for the comfort of travellers.
New chilled drinking fountains, a water play area, a small playground area, mass plantings of turf and climate specific vegetation and a water misting system will all serve to cool the Mall and make it a place to ‘meet and mingle’.
Better seating, bike racks, trolley bays and rubbish bins will update the look and feel of the Mall, and an area for stall holders will receive power and lighting to encourage more activity at night.
Shire of Ashburton Project Manager Justine Hyams said that these works will certainly be a challenge for contractors.
“We have put a very tight timeframe on the job to ensure minimal disruptions to business and mall access and most of the works will be conducted at night to achieve this.”
She said they were appealing to residents in Tom Price to be patient during the works and remember that the short-term interruptions would provide an amazing venue for everyone to enjoy.
Shire of Ashburton Acting Chief Executive Jeffrey Breen said the Shire of Ashburton had been working with planners, engineers and architects for many months to overcome a myriad of technical challenges associated with the project.
“Much of the infrastructure in town is very old, and it has been a challenge to locate and assess many of the services in the Mall area,” he said.
Mr Breen said design work on new drainage, sewer, power and water corridors had to take into account planning issues, existing structures and mature trees and the general design intent of the plan.
“The team have overcome these problems, and we look forward to breaking ground next month.”
The second stage of works in Tom Price will include the construction of a new sports pavilion which is expected to begin in the first quarter of the New Year.
Back to All News