Published on Friday, 20 April 2018 at 2:07:00 PM
The Shire of Merredin, Merredin Museums & Historical Society and members of the public celebrated the CBD Upgrades – Stage 1 official opening in style on Saturday, 14 April.
The event was co-hosted with the Merredin Museums & Historical Society who officially opened the Rolling Stock Cover and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Merredin Railway Museum. Following the official opening special guests and community members were able to enjoy a sumptuous morning tea provided by the Railway Museum, a barbecue lunch provided by the Shire, train rides on the children’s train courtesy of the Men’s Shed and free entry to both the Railway Museum and Military Museum.
Greg Powell, Chief Executive Officer for the Shire of Merredin, has welcomed the new upgrades to the CBD as he said in recent years the general public have been vocal in their feedback that they’d really like to see town amenities and main street features improved.
“These upgrades are extensive and whilst not 100% completed yet, the CBD already looks much improved and members of the public are able to enjoy these changes with new shade provided by the seating shelters and wider parking bays including bays for motorcycles and RV’s,” Mr Powell said.
“The Shire extends it thanks to the Wheatbelt Development Commission supported by ‘Royalties for Regions’ for their contribution of $150,000 to the project in addition to the Shire’s expenditure of $150,000.”
The upgrades include 2 new sets of sheltered seating in the grassy area on the South side of Barrack St, new kerbing and asphalting to approximately 50-60% of the existing car parking on the South side being predominantly high traffic areas. The remainder of the car park had new blue metal laid down. Repainting has occurred of existing disabled parking bays plus new parking bay lines which were increased to a width of 3 metres. Railing on the median strip was repainted and 2 areas in the car park have been made designated RV parking areas.
New plantings have occurred in several garden beds throughout the area including bougainvilleas along the railway fence which will act as a screen and the wool bale planter boxes have been relocated from Barrack St to Pioneer Park which was also upgraded with new signage. Most visibly, the fence surrounding Apex Park has been upgraded to a diamond shape wire mesh in black designed to blend and allow for clearer lines of sight.
Some final upgrades are still to be completed as part of this stage including new cladding to the salt water stations, repainting of the storage shed next to the railway line, instalment of electric car charging points to the rear of the Visitor Centre and a new footpath crossing from the railway crossing, past the Visitor Centre and to the main street.
For further information please contact the Shire on 9041 1611 or email admin@merredin.wa.gov.au.
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