Liveability Project - Revitalising Our Town Centres

Council is seeking feedback from the community on the seating that is proposed to be installed in Stage 1 of the Windsor Liveability project. The options that are provided both meet the Australian Standards for seating in pedestrian areas.

The submissions will close on Tuesday 24 October 2023.

Have your say here

The Council resolution on 18 April 2023 means that the north side of George Street between Tebbutt Street and New Street will also be paved.

Council is exploring three paver colours and would like to hear from you which colour you like best.

Vote in the poll on this page by Friday 30 June 2023 to have your say.

The transformation of our Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor town centres will begin in early 2022.

The detailed designs are in the final stages, with extra care being taken to preserve and highlight the important heritage of our centres, especially in Windsor, and to ensure minimal disruption is caused during construction. These designs will be reviewed by Heritage NSW as part of the final approval process.

The next step is the tender process to engage a contractor for the construction. An Expression of Interest process will commence on 26 October. Interested contractors will be able to apply at https://tenders.nsw.gov.au/wsroc

The improvements across the three town centres include:

• Richmond Town Centre - tree planting, street upgrades including enhanced paving, parklets and crossing upgrades as well as park furniture and open space improvements.
• South Windsor Town Centre - realigned parking with compliant accessible parking spaces in Mullinger Lane, new and improved pedestrian crossings, lighting, water efficient garden beds, tree planting, improved footpath paving and street furniture.
• Windsor Town Centre - enhanced paving and street furniture which is sensitive to heritage and the existing character; tree planting and pedestrian crossing upgrades. Windsor Mall would receive an open space suitable for events and performances which will increase pedestrian activity, new upgraded paving, furniture upgrades, outdoor dining areas and tree planting.

All master plans and designs can be viewed at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/lptc

It is anticipated that works will commence in Richmond and South Windsor early next year with Windsor being in mid-2022. This is pending approvals from Heritage NSW.

A highlight of the works will be the planting of 319 trees to form ‘green boulevards’ along George Street at Windsor and South Windsor, and Windsor Street at Richmond. Where possible, these trees will be planted along the existing footpath verges, but in some areas they will be planted within the roadway itself.

Hawkesbury City Mayor Patrick Conolly said the tree-lined streets will help tackle urban heat in our City.

“These three town centres are important retail and leisure spaces for residents and visitors. They are great spaces to shop, dine, be entertained and relax,” Mayor Conolly said.

“With the inclusion of more enjoyable outdoor seating and gathering spaces, we want more people to linger longer and be excited to come back.

“The addition of more trees will also help cool our town centres, provide shade for pedestrians and wildlife, and improve the visual appearance of the streets.

“I am looking forward to the vision coming to life and seeing our centres transformed.”

Western Parkland City Liveability Program

This project is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three levels of government via the Western Sydney City Deal. The Western Parkland City Liveability Program is a key commitment of the Western Sydney City Deal. The City Deals Liveability Program was established to enable each Council to implement a project to provide infrastructure improvements that will improve the built and natural environments and enable economic and social prosperity.

For further information about the Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, ‘Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor’, visit www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/lptc or contact Council’s Manager, City Design and Economic Development on (02) 4560 4444 or email council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Geotechnical work is about to commence at Richmond and South Windsor as part of the Western Parkland City Liveability Program which aims to revitalise the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor. Geotechnical work for Windsor will occur at a later date.

The contracted geotechnical engineers will test the existing ground conditions in the town centres on Thursday, 2 September and Friday, 3 September 2021. This will involve the drilling of several geotechnical investigation boreholes in test locations which will range from 100 to 200mm in diameter. The holes will then be backfilled and resurfaced.

Plans indicating the testing site locations are available here.

Council is upgrading the public spaces of South Windsor, Richmond and Windsor with funding from the Western Parkland City Liveability Program, a joint agreement between Federal, State and Local governments.

Concept designs for all three town centres can be viewed here.

Big changes are coming soon to Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor town centres with more trees, and improved community and pedestrian spaces.

The projects are being funded through the Western Parkland City Liveability Program, a joint agreement between Federal, State and Local governments. Hawkesbury City Council nominated the revitalisation of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor town centres as its three projects.

Council engaged Place Design Group to deliver the detailed design for revitalising the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor. The concept designs are now on Council's community engagement website, Your Hawkesbury Your Say at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au for the community to view.

The designs celebrate the existing heritage of these three town centres while improving the public places to boost and support the charm of the Hawkesbury region. The designs have specific aims for the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor:

• Richmond - to be a vibrant cultural destination that attracts tourists locally and from across the state
• South Windsor - to be an updated contemporary town centre that provides for the needs of the local community and supports local businesses
• Windsor – to attract visitors to the centre by preserving and enhancing the natural and built heritage

Under the plans, mature trees will be planted in all three town centres to create a magnificent 'green boulevard', while pavement and pedestrian safety improvements will encourage visitors to walk and remain longer in our town centres.

Hawkesbury City Mayor Patrick Conolly said the changes will improve the environment, enhance the towns’ reputation as great places to visit and support local business.

“We want to both mitigate climate change and make long-lasting positive improvements to the Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor town centres,” Mayor Conolly said.

“We know that Western Sydney already experiences extreme heat in summer and we are looking to futureproof the liveability and economic stability of the Hawkesbury.

“By planting street trees we can also reduce the reliance of cars by creating shaded spaces visitors are excited to visit and experience on foot.”

These improvements also meet Council's environmental sustainability targets (reduced temperatures and increased biodiversity).

The improvements include:

• Richmond Town Centre - tree planting, street upgrades, parklets and crossing upgrades as well as park furniture and open space improvements and an informal path to Richmond Post Office Site.

• South Windsor Town Centre - realigned parking with compliant accessible parking spaces in Mullinger Lane, new and improved pedestrian crossings, lighting, water efficient garden beds, tree planting, improved footpath paving and street furniture.

• Windsor Town Centre - enhanced paving and street furniture which is sensitive to heritage and the existing character; tree planting and pedestrian crossing upgrades. Windsor Mall would receive an events and performance space which will increase pedestrian activity, new upgraded paving, furniture upgrades, outdoor dining areas and tree planting.

Council has taken community feedback into account and as a result, Council is looking to plant the new trees in existing footpath verges wherever possible. Where this is not possible, new trees will be planted in the existing roadway in new small garden spaces, with every effort made to protect as much on street parking as possible.

Western Parkland City Liveability Program

This project is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three levels of government via the Western Sydney City Deal. The Western Parkland City Liveability Program is a key commitment of the Western Sydney City Deal. The City Deals Liveability Program was established to enable each Council to implement a project to provide infrastructure improvements that will improve the built and natural environments and enable economic and social prosperity.

For further information about the Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, ‘Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor’, visit yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au or contact Council’s Manager, City Design and Economic Development on (02) 4560 4444 or email council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

As part of the Western Parkland City Liveability Program, Hawkesbury City Council has engaged Place Design Group to deliver the detailed design for revitalising the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor.

Place Design Group’s design component of the Liveability Project will bring the Masterplan vision to fruition. The design will celebrate existing heritage and enhance public places through public domain upgrades, activation initiatives and place-making, with the aim to re-energize the charm of the Hawkesbury region.

The Design Phase of the Hawkesbury City Council’s Master Plan and Public Domain Plan ‘Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor’ has specific aims for the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor:

Richmond – to be an Activated Cultural Destination

South Windsor – to be an Updated Contemporary Town Centre

Windsor – to focus on River Heritage, Civic Boulevards and Vibrant People Places.

Once the detailed design is completed, it will be placed on Council’s community engagement website, Your Hawkesbury Your Say at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au

Western Parkland City Liveability Program

Council has created this project to revitalise the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor through public domain upgrades, place-making and activation initiatives, stakeholder partnerships and commercial opportunities. This project is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three levels of government via the Western Sydney City Deal. The Western Parkland City Liveability Program is a key commitment of the Western Sydney City Deal. The City Deals Liveability Program was established to enable each Council to implement a project to provide infrastructure improvements that will improve the built and natural environments and enable economic and social prosperity.

For further information about the Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, ‘Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor’, visit www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au or contact Council’s Manager, City Design and Economic Development on (02) 4560 4444.

Hawkesbury City Council’s Master Plan and Public Domain Plan ‘Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor’, the Liveability Project, has received the green light from Council, and now it’s all systems go to ensure the town centres become appealing destinations.

Council has specific aims for the Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor:

• Richmond – to be an Activated Cultural Destination
• South Windsor – to be an Updated Contemporary Town Centre
• Windsor – to focus on River Heritage, Civic Boulevards and Vibrant People Places.

The Liveability Project has two key components. Firstly, it identifies town centre master plan strategies to provide an overarching framework to guide change and revitalisation. The second component is a public domain concept plan for a focus area within each centre. The public domain plan includes a vision, design features, guidelines and a maintenance plan.

Led by the Town Centres Master Plan Working Group, Council created the Liveability Project to revitalise the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor through public domain upgrades, place-making and activation initiatives, stakeholder partnerships and commercial opportunities. This project is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three levels of government via the Western Sydney City Deal.

Council’s vision is that the Hawkesbury can be a vibrant and collaborative community living in harmony with our history and environment, whilst valuing diversity, striving for innovation, a strong economy and retaining the Hawkesbury lifestyle and identity. The project aims to:

• Reinforce strengths of existing village identity, heritage and setting of key town centres
• Foster partnerships between the community, stakeholders and decision makers
• Slower, safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
• Better access and wayfinding to key destinations and parking
• Attractive town centres with high quality footpaths, furniture and landscaping
• Benefit to local businesses with more pedestrian activity, placemaking and improved image to attract more residents, visitors and businesses
• Greener Town Centres with improved park space with more amenity, more trees and shade, cooler streets and reduced carbon emissions
• Healthy, inclusive community with more active transport, enhanced social environments, reduced obesity and improved mental health
• Work with business operators and owners to improve facades and shop fronts.

The Town Centres Master Plan Working Group, including Chairperson Councillor Danielle Wheeler, Councillor Emma-Jane Garrow, business owners and community representatives, worked together over 2017-2020 to ensure that the town centres of Windsor, Richmond and South Windsor become vibrant hubs through the project.

‘I especially want to thank everyone in our Working Group for their incredible dedication to this important project,” Chairperson Councillor Wheeler said.

“To see this all become a reality is going to mean so much to our community members, including the local businesses on the ground and our wider business community, and of course to everyone who worked as volunteer members of the Working Group. Thank you to everyone involved, and we look forward to a great celebration when it is completed.”

Following the public exhibition of the Draft Masterplan and Public Domain Plan for Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor, Council noted the outcome of the public exhibition of the Draft Masterplan and Public Domain Plan and resolved to adopt the Masterplan and Public Domain Plan for Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor, with the following conditions:

• No commitment to open the south end of Windsor Mall
• No endorsement of a bridge to Windsor beach due to feasibility concerns
• Retain the water wheel and gas lights
• Note that the delicate balance between heritage, flooding, increased density and building style is not adequately addressed
• Recommend that any new, three or four storey residential development include set-backs with the front storey lower, and prevention of shading and overlooking of lower density adjacent blocks.

Council has adopted the plans and approved the list of projects for detailed design:

Community consultation

The Liveability Project involved extensive community consultation via social media, Council’s website and Council community engagement site Your Hawkesbury Your say, face to face consultation at the town centres, media promotion, advertising and two community surveys during the lifecycle of the project.

The survey asked community members for their thoughts and comments on each town centre. A total of 397 responses were received for this survey. For all priorities and details on the survey, see www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/lptc

Windsor Town Centre

The survey revealed that what community members like about Windsor is the community feel, the heritage buildings, the wide open spaces, the variety of shops and shop keepers caring about their shops and the mall space. Community feedback included a desire to not open the road all the way, to keep an area for families and children, greater police presence, buskers for entertainment.

As part of the survey, community members had the chance to prioritise key projects for Windsor and give community feedback of their priorities, which included:

• Priority 1 – George Street Streetscape – formal tree boulevarde
• Priority 2 – Mall (South end, between Fitzgerald and Kable Streets) *Shared pedestrian zone (reopened to cars), trees planted and aligned with George Street, clear sightlines, quality furniture, lighting, reintroduce car parking. *Council acknowledged all priorities, however it was decided that the South end of Windsor Mall would not be reopened to cars.
• Priority 3- Mall (North end, between Kable and Baker Street) Pedestrians only, extend tree planting to align with George Street, high quality pavement, street furniture and lighting.

Richmond Town Centre

Survey respondents stated that they liked Richmond Park as it centres the town as a destination, the variety of shops, the care of shop keepers and building owners, cafes and food options, heritage buildings, and the country feel. Community feedback included that one end of Windsor Street is busy and the other end quiet, the idea to light the place up at Christmas and that Council needs to support more initiatives.

For Richmond, community members prioritised key projects for Richmond:

• Priority 1 – Windsor Street Streetscape – Green Tree Boulevarde, new seating, street furniture, lighting, bollards and lighting for events, parklets for outdoor dining
• Priority 2 – Richmond Park Oval Activation – Pedestrian connectivity of crossing and pathways, new seating, improve arrival appearance, event space, public wifi
• Priority 3 – Regent Theatre Forecourt, framed by street trees and seating.

South Windsor Town Centre

For South Windsor, community members prioritised the options and gave community feedback including that they liked the community feel, the opportunity for growth, good range of shops for food and beverage. Priorities:

• Priority 1 – George Street Streetscape – Green Boulevarde with street trees linking South Windsor from McLeod Park to the Train Station, new seating
• Priority 2 – Berweean Park Upgrades (corner George Street and Bell Street) – more greenery and canopy, formal path network, activate park with play equipment or courts
• Priority 3 – George Street Parklets with places to sit.

Western Parkland City Liveability Program

Council has created this project to revitalise the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor through public domain upgrades, place-making and activation initiatives, stakeholder partnerships and commercial opportunities. This project is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three levels of government via the Western Sydney City Deal. The Western Parkland City Liveability Program is a key commitment of the Western Sydney City Deal. The City Deals Liveability Program was established to enable each Council to implement a project to provide infrastructure improvements that will improve the built and natural environments and enable economic and social prosperity. The total value of the Liveability Program is $18.75 million per Council comprising $15 million from the Commonwealth and State Government and a further matching $3.75 million from Council.

Council acknowledges the work of the Members of the Town Centre Master Plan Working Group in completing their role in the development of the Masterplan and Public Domain Plan.

For further information about the Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor, visit www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/lptc or contact Council’s Manager, City Design and Economic Development on (02) 4560 4444.

Come and join us this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the following locations to view the Master Plan, ask questions, complete the survey and Have Your Say on your town centres.

➡️Friday 14 August, South Windsor Shops from 10.30am - 2.30pm
➡️Saturday 15 August, Richmond Good Food Markets, Richmond Park from 8.00am - 1.00pm
➡️Sunday 16 August, Windsor Mall Markets, Windsor from 9.00am - 3.00pm

Council at its Ordinary Meeting on 27 July 2020 resolved to place on exhibition The Draft Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor.

The Draft Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor will be on public exhibition from Monday 3 August 2020 to Monday 31 August 2020.

The documents relating to this project can be found to the Document Library, this includes an interactive document which can be viewed here(External link).

Click here for the community survey.

The purpose of this project is to revitalise the town centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor through public domain upgrades, place-making and activation initiatives, stakeholder partnerships and commercial opportunities. This project is supported by the Western Parkland City Liveability Program and funded by all three levels of government via the Western Sydney City Deal.

To support this transformation and address key issues, Council needs a master plan to ensure the town centres become appealing destinations.

The project has two key components. Firstly it identifies town centre master plan strategies that provide an overarching framework to guide change and revitalisation. The second outcome is a public domain concept plan for a focus area within each centre. The public domain plan includes a vision, design features, guidelines and a maintenance plan.

A copy of the Draft Master Plan and Public Domain Plan, Liveability Project, Revitalising Our Town Centres of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor can be viewed at Council’s Administration Building, 366 George Street, Windsor during office hours 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Learn more about the future of Richmond, South Windsor and Windsor by clicking through the interactive document to see what is proposed. Have your say now. Closes end 31 August 2020.