New plans to enable a swathe of projects designed to enliven the Batemans Bay waterfront are up for public comment.
Councillors endorsed the draft Batemans Bay Waterfront Masterplan and Activation Strategy for public exhibition on Tuesday 23 June.
Council engaged specialist tourism planning and urban design consultants, Inspiring Place and Complete Streets, to identify opportunities to activate the Batemans Bay waterfront. The project is an outcome of several State and Council strategic documents which identify the need to reinforce Batemans Bay as a key regional centre and marine tourism hub.
The draft Batemans Bay Waterfront Masterplan and Activation Strategy outlines ways to strengthen the waterfront as a key destination experience for Eurobodalla. The draft Plan provides a vision for the waterfront to facilitate much needed development of marine based tourism infrastructure, further activate the waterfront and address issues and opportunities raised during an extensive stakeholder engagement process between June 2019 and March 2020.
The draft Plan includes actions for:
• Youth Central – a unique youth activity space with multiple play opportunities in a colourful setting by the water
• Pedestrian wayfinding and interpretation that improves accessibility and enables Batemans Bay to stand out as a destination
• Waterfront Square providing an open vista through to the estuary; an interactive installation to draw families, with improved access to the water and quality street furniture
• Waterfront activation through innovative product displays, experiential retail, alfresco dining, busking and entertainment, parklets and spontaneous activity in collaboration with businesses
• A people and activity focussed Clyde Street, delivered through changed road pavement, improved parking alignments, removal of barriers, additional seating, shade and open green spaces to support spontaneous and planned activities
• A connected waterfront with a widened pathway, upgraded lighting, improved landscaping and accessibility to water
• Marine infrastructure to support the growth of marine based tourism including cruises, kayaks, sea planes, recreational boaters and diving and fishing charter operations
• Review polices and processes to make activation easier and encourage more people to do business and live in Batemans Bay
The draft Batemans Bay Waterfront Masterplan and Activation Strategy will be on public exhibition until Tuesday 28 July. To view the draft plan and make a submission, visit https://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/inside-council/project-and-exhibitions/public-exhibition. For more information about the project, including Council’s commitment to community engagement, visit https://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/inside-council/project-and-exhibitions/major-projects-and-works/batemans-bay-waterfront.
Above: Extensive stakeholder engagement has been undertaken throughout the development of the draft Plan. The feedback received, at each phase has been considered and incorporated in the draft Plan The draft Plan supports increasing the residential and tourist accommodation in Batemans Bay and improving the pedestrian permeability around the CBD. It also proposes to review policy to ensure activation is encouraged eg alfresco dining, street trading, busking, etc. There is wide support among businesses to activate Batemans Bay and the opportunities the draft Plan identifies.
