The revamp of Main Street is back on with the council looking for a contract to begin construction in the coming months.
Last Friday, the Gazette joined Cardinia Shire Mayor Jack Kowarzik, the council’s Program Manager Major Projects Narelle Bulleid and Senior Project Engineer, David Conomy in a walk through Main Street to talk over the renewed initiative that has already gone out to tender.
A facelift of Pakenham has been sought after by the community for many years and Cardinia Shire has never been closer to doing so in decades.
After reaching the point of signing a contract late last year, budget and logistical issues saw it delayed at the last minute, but now the council has kick-started the plans once again, with a contractor currently being sought for a hopeful start before the end of the year.
The project will encompass three stages, with the first focusing on works at the station end of Main Street and through Drake Place.
With construction marking the centre of town for the last several years, the works on Main Street are being considered with the future disruptions heavily in mind.
“We are really cognisant of the fact that there is construction fatigue in Pakenham,” Mayor Kowarzik said.
“We are really strong in getting across to contractors that it is important how they stage the works.”
Stage 1 will widen footpaths, install new seating and green space, and create new crossings on Main Street between the roundabouts with Henty Street and Drake Place.
Works will be split between each side of the road, so that access can still be available, and construction will take a break over the busy December period for traders.
Works through the commercial strip of Main Street and the John Street end are in further stages, with construction in these areas not expected over the next year.
Ms Bulleid said careful consideration has been made in collaboration with the state government to ensure the works don’t add major disruption as works continue on Bald Hill Road and at the future Pakenham Community Hospital.
Stage 1 will continue into Drake Place through to John Street, utilising state government funding secured last year.
This will expand the access of the side street, including a particular integration with the future community hospital, expected for completion next year.
There will be a dedicated shared path from Main Street through to the new hospital and the wider car park area.
“This could be all shop frontage all the way down,” Mayor Jack said, pointing to the back area of Drake Place.
“We are trying to set up this project for the next 20 to 25 years of growth in Pakenham.”
With more connectivity, it will lay the foundation for further works in the future. Not only in Main Street, but in Pakenham Place, that is expected to include John Street extending under the rail bridge to connect to Henty Street.
When the council moves to the further stages, a revamped Drake Place will allow an easy diversion as Main Street construction commences.
The project has received $1 million from the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund, with the council contributing about $1.5 million so far.
The extensions to Drake Place and John Street were provided by the State Government’s Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) Fund, granting $8.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively.
With such an injection, it’s hoped that not only will residents receive a place of pride, but also an attractive place for private investment.
For about a decade, Main Street Central has been zoned to allow three-storey buildings that could hold housing units and office space on top of the shopfronts. Trying to encourage further development is a part of the need for a revamp.
“I think a reason for that is a lack of public investment and a lack of clarity in what council wants to achieve in this site,” Mayor Kowarzik said.
“One thing we have heard from residents a lot is the feeling that whilst the development has happened around the different estates, there has been no return on investment for central Pakenham.”
“We want to try and lift the level of amenity and community pride that people have for Pakenham itself.”
Alongside increasing accessibility and the look of Main Street, the project provides pathways for further safety, with more lighting at night and the hopeful opportunity for police to install CCTV cameras.
The further stages will include installing parallel parking on both sides of Main Street to widen the footpath.
It’s aimed to make a more vibrant streetscape that is more accommodating for outdoor dining, business signage and overall walkability for the commercial area.
Including those added in the Pakenham Station, the reduction in carparks on Main Street will be replaced by the addition of several hundred in the overall precinct.
The Pakenham Revitalisation Project encompasses 12 different stages for the whole precinct from the northern half of Main Street, to Bald Hill Road, to James Street. These projects have no backing yet and would be many years in the future if they are successfully funded.
The plan beyond Main Street will depend on continued support from all levels of government.
“It is challenging, but it’s something we’re continually talking to the federal government about,” Mayor Kowarzik said.
“Obviously, we have a working relationship with the state because they have active projects in the area, but it’s difficult to integrate that and it takes a lot of council time and resources, so we are asking the federal government to help us here in that overall integration and looking at Pakenham as a precinct.”
