In 2018 Wattle Range Council committed funds to develop concept designs for the enhancement of the town centres in Penola and Millicent. The aim was to map out the future development of the town centres, improving/preserving amenity, encouraging opportunities for economic development and promoting places for people.

Ultimately, these designs will then be used to inform future Council business planning as well as applications for external grants funding opportunities.

Concept Design Phase

Following a selective tender process WAX Design were engaged to complete the concept designs.

Despite challenges posed by COVID-19 WAX Design were able to gather community input into the projects via surveys and smaller face-to-face workshops held in both towns.

Initial consultation began in Penola in July/August 2020. 80 interested community/business members attended small workshop sessions held over two days, as well students who participated in a session held at the Mary MacKillop Memorial School. 198 responses were received in this first survey which asked participants questions to help the consultants understand ‘what made their town a great place’.

WAX then shifted their focus to Millicent in December 2020. The socially distanced face-to-face sessions were attended by 84 community members, many of which were George Street business owners. The Millicent Business Community Association and local arts group IMAG were also represented. 184 respondents provided insight as to ‘what made their town a great place’ in the online survey.

Feedback received from the public in this initial phase informed the development of the draft concept design report which was the next step in consultation.

Once the concept design report had been presented to Council it was then presented back to the community for further feedback, again with a survey and this time larger Q & A sessions.

55 community members attended the Q & A Session held in Penola in February 2021 and 57 completed a survey providing comment on the concept design report.

The second phase of consultation in Millicent occurred in April/May 2021 with 47 community members coming along to the Q & A and 53 responses to the survey.

In addition, conversations were held specifically with the Uniting Church Parish Council & SA Police as they were potentially directly impacted by the actions included in the draft plans.

In engaging with the community through the workshops and surveys, WAX Design were able to better understand their priorities, as well as reflecting on any ideas, aspirations, issues and opportunities raised.

This community feedback played an integral part in the development of the final concepts, an implementation plan and priority matrix added.

Note: A full description of the community engagement process and the information gathered is included in the final reports.

The final Concept Designs endorsed by Council are available below:

Detailed Design Phase

A total of thirteen priority projects were identified by WAX in the Town Centre Concept Designs, of those, the first three have been selected by Council to be progressed to a detailed design phase:

• Millicent: Town Park & Stuckey Street (Glen Street) - Millicent Town Centre Concept Design Priority Project E
• Penola: Town Entry (Casterton Road) - Penola Town Centre Concept Design Priority Project F
• Penola: Riddoch Street - Penola Town Centre Concept Design Priority Project D

The next step in the process is to complete a detailed design for each of these three projects to allow for cost estimates and tender documentation to be prepared.

Design consultants Sproutt have been appointed to develop the detailed designs and will be in the region to visit the sites and speak with key stakeholders, including impacted traders/business owners, cultural representatives and disability advocates.

Sproutt will present preliminary designs in March next year, at which time further conversations with stakeholders will occur, with the final designs for tender estimated to be ready in June 2023.