The former Go-Lo building, opposite the proposed performing arts centre, features strategically in a draft CBD master plan, released at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Consultants Spacelab have completed the document at a $35,000 cost. It recommends ‘activating’ existing laneways to create pedestrian arcades and links to rear parking, more outdoor dining and landscaping, parking changes, improved signage and better connections to places like Victoria Park.

A key recommendation is creation of a lane between Cartwright Place and Auburn Street on the Go-Lo site. Retail and cafe spaces would front the lane, which would provide easier access to the planned performing arts venue.

But it requires the building’s acquisition. Council general manager Warwick Bennett confirmed that the council previously looked at purchasing the structure.    

“But we have no immediate plans to buy it. There is nothing in the next four-year budget to purchase it,” he said.

“If the council thinks it’s a good idea after the community consultation (on the draft CBD plan) comes back then we’d have to revisit our budget.”

Mr Bennett did not rule out a private partnership but said it was important to explore all options and obtain a market value if the community supported the idea and councillors thought it was affordable.

“One of the options for that site, which I believe is lacking in Goulburn, is a good community building. Whether or not we can have an alley way that duplicates as a community building for youth and other groups, I don’t know, but it’s something that could be a positive option.”

Mr Bennett said the draft plan’s release had nothing to do with the upcoming December 6 Joint Regional Planning Panel’s meeting to decide the performing arts project.

“The master plan has been discussed for a very long time. The main purpose of getting it on agenda is to ensure consultation starts well before Christmas and is not dumped on people just before,” he said.

“All submissions have been made to the JRPP and the draft CBD master plan has not been adopted, so it’s not a position we could use before the panel.” 

The document states that some lanes are “dark and unpleasant spaces to walk through.” It suggests rejuvenating Walker Lane in northern Auburn Street  with lighting, street art, a plaza, retail and cafes. The council would have to acquire some land at the rear to improve parking links.

Empire Lane, too, could be painted in brighter colours, the study stated. Another lane between Auburn Street and the former Huntly Arcade could also improve parking links.

“If we can make all our lanes look like Russell Lane and get some good lighting, which is the secret, we can finish up with really good, positive connections between the back streets and Auburn Street,” Mr Bennett said.

The study recommends an overhaul of Auburn Street between Clinton and Verner Streets. Angle could be replaced with parallel parking in the block, with landscaping, tree bays and seating installed.

The consultants suggest a 1.5 metre wide cycleway between the carriageway and parking spaces, which may be the beginning of a series of cycle paths in the CBD. Mr Bennett said the street could be too narrow for this and he preferred measures that focused on people and pedestrian movements.

“But let’s put it out there and see what the community has to say. None of these ideas are set in concrete; they’re a starting point for consultation,” he said. 

Spacelab says there are “multiple types of street furniture” in Auburn Street with “limited consistency.”

“New concrete and stone benches have been installed at the pedestrian crossing zones, however the stone seats are too hot during summer and too cold during winter,” the plan states.

It details alternative timber seats and benches, bins, drinking fountains and bike racks, along with improved directional signage in the CBD.

Notably, they suggested ‘parklets’ could provide additional seating and landscaping. Mr Bennett says these temporary and movable ‘parks’ can occupy parking spaces and be used by cafes.

“When the cafe closes, it can be moved to another location,” he said.

“I got the idea from Hahndorf in Adelaide where the parklets encourage really positive interaction, with people sitting there, drinking coffee or whatever and chatting,” he said.

Pedestrians are a central focus of the masterplan. The authors said currently the mid-block crossings did not prioritise people and recommended that pedestrian crossings be installed at each one. But in recent time the council has removed these crossings at some schools and elsewhere in the CBD for safety reasons.

Mr Bennett believed they were unsafe but said it was important not to focus on just one aspect of the study.

In a similar vein, the document agrees with council efforts to secure ownership of Auburn Street, giving them greater control over beautification.

Mr Bennett said talks were well underway with the Roads and Maritime Service, which was doing testing on the roads. He hoped a report and draft agreement with the RMS would be brought to councillors’ February meeting. 

Elsewhere in the CBD, the authors say there’s potential to provide more angle parking spots in Bourke and Church Streets through line-marking.

Mr Bennett said overall, there was room for improvement in the CBD.

“I have a different view to many in the community but I want to see the CBD made pedestrian friendly,” he said.

“It’s pedestrians that buy goods and shop, it’s not cars, so coupled with parklets and better use of the laneways, just generally getting seats and interaction with the community, can be so positive. It happens in lots of other communities around Australia and I’d like to see it happen in Goulburn.

“It’s an exciting concept. We’ve moved well away from the 1990s when thousands and thousands of trucks were going up and down Auburn Street and we just need to keep enhancing that. Let’s not do everything at once but slowly work through it.

“...It’s an exciting opportunity to change the whole face of Goulburn’s CBD.”

The document will go on public exhibition until February 28, 2018.

The council intends to organise pop-up areas to display and explain the plans and to hold several public meetings in late January/early February on the masterplan.

Feedback can be also be given via the council’s ‘Your Say Goulburn’ community consultation webpage.