Project description

The Pakenham Revitalisation project will deliver upgrades across Main Street, John Street, Station Street, Drake Place, Pakenham and the surrounding laneways and arcades.

Works will be delivered across 12 stages, aiming to create a vibrant and prosperous Pakenham for all people.

Through these works, we want to create an attractive environment that can host a range of events and activities, both during the day and night. We want to make it safer for people to move through and access our town centre, and attract more visitors to give local businesses the boost they need.

Project overview

Keeping our traders, trading during disruptions

Council has met with and will continue to meet with impacted traders to understand how to best assist and support business through construction disruptions. Once Council engages a contractor to deliver Stage 1 works, a detailed plan will be communicated to those impacted.

To support businesses during the disruptions, Council will provide programs to support them with continued trade. Examples of this support include providing communications for special events to promote spend, promotions to assist in boosting foot traffic in and around the town centre.

The program will be planned to minimise disruptions, with access to shopfronts provided throughout the works program.

Stage 1 works

We will improve Main Street to make it more people focused, vibrant, safe, and accessible for all. The improvements will include:

• High quality and wider footpaths along Main Street to improve the pedestrian accessibility and experience
• Raised platform zebra crossings to improve pedestrian safety
• Parallel parking bays with more accessible kerb ramps to replace the existing angle parking bays and barrier kerb
• Improved street lighting
• New seating and street furniture
• New street trees better suited to Main Street
• Areas for outdoor dining
• New ‘all ability signage’ to make it easy to move in and around the Pakenham Activity Centre.

September 2024 – Stage 1A – Main Street Central works:

This timeframe is linked to requirements to current funding received from the Victorian Government.

Late 2024 – Stage 1B – Main Street Gateway works:

It is anticipated the second part of Main Street will be delivered in late 2024 to coordinate works with the Level Crossing Project.

As part of these works:

• New parallel parking bays will create more space for streetscape improvements including wider pedestrian areas, new seating and street furniture. Parallel parking bays will provide drivers with better visibility and reduce the risk of collisions.
• 4 on-street accessible parking bays will be located at the centre of Main Street. Additional off-street accessible parking bays will be provided in the James Street carpark and at the future Pakenham Community Hospital and Pakenham Station.

Stage 2 – Community signage

• A consistent wayfinding system across Pakenham Major Activity Centre that is cohesive, efficient and provides clear directions across the town centre.

Stage 3 – Station Street

• Parallel carpark line marking
• Upgrade secondary footpaths
• Consider street tree planting
• Improve connection to Bourke Park

Stage 4 – Drake Place

• Upgrade Drake Place
• Opportunity for mixed-use development with multi-level car parking

Stage 5 – Arcades & laneways

• Opportunity for activation (murals/arts festival)
• Upgrade surface finishes
• Potential to engage local artists
• Upgrade lighting for safety
• Outdoor furniture
• Weather protection

Stage 6 – John Street

• Upgrading John Street from:

-Main Street to Drake Place

-Extension from Drake Place through to Henty Street.

Stage 7 – Main Street North

• Upgrade primary footpaths
• Consider street tree planting
• Street furniture

Stage 8 – James Street

• Formalise James Street carpark
• Multi-level parking

Stage 9 – John Street

• Upgrade primary footpaths
• Consider street tree planting
• Gateway element
• Street furniture

Stage 10 – Henry Street & Cook Drive

• Upgrade footpaths
• Consider street tree planting

Stage 11 – Bald Hill Road

• Upgrade footpaths
• Review uses along Bald Hill Road
• Consider street tree planting

Stage 12 – Key development & opportunities

Funding

Stage 1 and 2 works are jointly supported and funded by the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Funding and Cardinia Shire Council.

Progress update

Stage 1 works will be delivered in a staggered way to minimise disruptions to traders and the community.

• September 2024 – Main Street Central
• Further works on the Main Street Gateway (near the railway line) will be delivered in late 2024

Council has met with and will continue to meet with impacted traders to understand how to best assist and support business through construction disruptions. Once Council engages a contractor to deliver Stage 1 works, a detailed plan will be communicated to those impacted.

Council has engaged experts in major project stakeholder management, Struber to assist managing relationships and information to local businesses and groups.

Detailed design plans are currently being completed for lighting, landscaping and civil delivery.

Stages 2 to 12 will be planned and delivered across the next 10 years.

Have your say on Pakenham Revitalisation