Council seeks community input on plans for popular precinct

Members of the Scenic Rim community, business operators and visitors to the region are being invited to help shape planning for Tamborine Mountain’s Gallery Walk by providing their feedback on concept plans for the popular precinct.

Community consultation will commence today for a period of three weeks, with feedback invited on concept designs for the improvement of Gallery Walk marking another step towards the development of a business case for a pedestrian boulevard.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the business case will be key to the revitalisation of Gallery Walk as it will be used to seek grant funding from the Queensland and Australian governments to progress the detailed design and construction of improvements to the precinct on Tamborine Mountain’s state-controlled Long Road.

“With more than 70 bespoke shops and hospitality businesses in one block, Gallery Walk is an important destination for visitors and locals alike and, over the past 20 years, a number of improvements have been made to the precinct following consultation with members of the community and stakeholders,” he said.

“Since 2010, when Council developed the Gallery Walk Renewal Plan, the message from the community has been clear – that more parking is needed.

“The congestion along Gallery Walk in peak periods causes frustration for shoppers, business owners and residents and creates hazards for drivers and pedestrians, leading to a less pleasant experience for all.

“Community consultation in 2021 helped Council to identify the current challenges to be addressed to improve Gallery Walk and this has been incorporated into the concept designs towards the development of the pedestrian boulevard business case.”

In line with its Strategic Land Purchase Initiative, Council recently acquired a 6.17-hectare property in the heart of the Gallery Walk precinct with ample, gently sloping land providing direct vehicle and pedestrian access to Long Road.

Results of the community consultation in October will aid Council’s design of a carpark on the site that will not only alleviate current traffic issues, but also provide convenient parking for local residents and visitors well into the future.

The current round of community consultation builds on previous feedback received from the community which is available as a report on the Let's Talk Scenic Rim website's Gallery Walk project page.

As Long Road is the responsibility of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Council has continued to advocate for additional improvements to support the Gallery Walk precinct.

In 2020, Council was allocated $150,100 under the Queensland Government's Building our Regions program to develop its Tamborine Mountain Gallery Walk Pedestrian Boulevard Business Case ,and is also contributing $75,100 towards the project.

Division 2 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Jeff McConnell said Council knows from previous surveys and stakeholder workshops that the community wants Gallery Walk to remain a beautiful place that everyone can enjoy and be proud of, that offers a welcoming country atmosphere with arts and culture, local produce and products, and that is more connected with nature through trees and greenery.

“People want a space for activities and events for locals and visitors, that is more accessible and comfortable with improved lighting, shade and seating and is safer for pedestrians with better footpaths and more convenient for motorists with improved traffic management and parking,” he said.

“Both of the concept designs respond to this community input, with variations in landscaping, parking configurations and footpath design.”

The community consultation will focus on two key questions - what elements of the concept designs do people like and what changes would they suggest to improve the designs.

Consultation via Council's online community engagement platform, Let's Talk Scenic Rim closes on Wednesday 26 October 2022, and is available through direct engagement at an Open House on Wednesday 12 October 2022.

The Open House will run from 4:30 to 7:30pm at the Fortitude Brewing Co. at 165 Long Road on Tamborine Mountain.

Cr McConnell encouraged residents to take part in the community consultation that would shape the future of this important project.

"I urge community members to make the most of this opportunity to contribute to the planning of one of our region's most popular precincts, by letting us know what you think about the current concept designs,” he said.

Sign up to have your say and leave your feedback on the Gallery Walk project by visiting letstalkscenicrim.qld.gov.au/gallery-walk.

The Tamborine Mountain Gallery Walk Pedestrian Boulevard Business Case is proudly funded by the Queensland Government's Building our Regions program in association with Scenic Rim Regional Council.