Nhill Townscape and Lake Concept Plan Implementation
About this project:
In mid-2021, Hindmarsh Shire Council in conjunction with Wimmera Mallee Tourism and funding support from the Australian Government commissioned the development of a Nhill Townscape and Lake Concept Plan for Nhill.
The vision for the project was to ‘Enhance pedestrian and visual connections between the town centre (Goldsworthy Park), Jaypex Park and Nhill Lake with a focus on encouraging visitors to stay and explore the town’.
Following consultation with the community in May 2021, the results of the community feedback received determined the following two areas as priorities:
- Pathways: through Centenary Park linking Victoria Street to Jaypex Park or from Victoria Street to Nhill Lake.
- Signage: improved various directional, information and interpretative signage requirements were identified.
In early 2022, Council undertook a community consultation process by way of a survey to obtain the opinions of Nhill residents on their prioritised issues.
Identified issues included the construction / establishment of identified pathways linking the three locations (Goldsworthy Park, Jaypex Park and Nhill Lake), with the installation of appropriate lighting, interpretative and directional signage.
Signage with maps was also identified along with public artwork and sculptures acknowledging and celebrating the region heritage and multiculturalism.
Based on the outcomes of the previous community consultation, Council undertook further consultation in September 2022 to determine which of the two identified pathways (Nhill Lake or Centenary Park) was the preferred priority for stage 1.
The feedback that Council received stated that:
- 67% said that Council should prioritise the Nhill Lake Pathway and 33% said that Council should prioritise the Centenary Park Pathway.
- 56% said the Nhill Lake pathway should be constructed of concrete, whereas 44% said gravel.
- 89% said the Centenary Park pathway should be constructed of concrete, whereas 11% said gravel.
- Providing Council has enough funding, 67% said Council should install bollard lighting along these pathways, whereas 33% suggested overhead lighting.
- When asked to prioritise what signage was a priority to them, the responses received were the following:
- Nhill Lake
- Information Centre
- Highway Signage
- Centenary Park
- Caravan Park
The Nhill Lake pathway was identified as the priority for stage 1 of the implementation process.
What happened in the first stage of this project?
Following the identification of the connection between the town centre and Nhill Lake as the priority, Council in consultation with the Nhill Lake Committee of Management, constructed a walking track to link Nhill Lake and Nhill's Town Centre (from the corner of Victoria and Pine Streets to Green Street and along the levee bank that runs beside Towns Lane to Clarence Street).
This stage of the project also included installation of solar powered lighting and bollards along the route to improve safety for users, as well as new interpretative and directional signage installed at key locations to assist with the promotion of Nhill Lake to visitors.
This stage was completed in late 2024.
What is the next planned stage of this project?
The second stage of the Nhill Townscape Master Plan implementation will be to construct an meandering interpretative walking pathway through Centenary Park to link Jaypex Park to the Nhill Lake pathway at corner of Victoria Street and Pine Street and the town centre of Goldsworthy Park.
In early April 2025, Council requested quotations from suitably qualified and experienced persons / organisations to construct a curved footpath and installation of black steel loop fencing at Centenary Park and Jaypex Park, Nhill. An update is to come on the outcome of this.
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Although Council isn't currently seeking feedback for this project, please feel free to ask us any questions that you have about it. Subscribe to this project if you would like to be notified of any future consultations or drop-in sessions.
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