Draft Laurieton Town Centre Master Plan feedback under review

THE exhibition period for the Draft Laurieton Town Centre Master Plan has now closed, with council staff set to review community feedback before presenting a final version of the document to councillors for consideration later this year.

The draft plan generated significant discussion throughout the exhibition period, with residents, businesses and community organisations taking a keen interest in the future direction of Laurieton’s town centre.

A number of concept proposals attracted particular attention from the community, including the potential expansion of the eastern verge along Bold Street between Seymour Street and Laurie Street, which would reduce parking capacity in that section of the CBD.

Other frequently discussed concepts included making Seymour Street one-way, diverting heavy vehicle traffic from Bold Street to Lake Street, relocating the boat ramp near Laurieton United Services Club, and the adaptive reuse of Holy Trinity Church as a café space.

While opinions varied on individual elements of the plan, a common theme emerged throughout the consultation process.

Many residents acknowledged that change and growth are inevitable but expressed a desire to ensure Laurieton’s existing character, accessibility and amenities are maintained and well cared for.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council conducted a range of engagement activities during the exhibition period, including pop-up information stalls and a workshop-style community session.

While these events provided opportunities for residents to learn more about the proposal, some community members expressed concerns about the workshop format and reported difficulties securing places due to capacity limits.

The Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce was among the organisations to lodge a formal submission, presenting a 24-page document developed following extensive consultation with local businesses, residents and community groups.

Chamber President Luke Hadfield said the consultation process demonstrated the strong level of community interest in Laurieton’s future.

“There is no doubt the community cares deeply about the future of Laurieton and wants to be involved in shaping that future,” Mr Hadfield said.

“The feedback we received wasn’t opposition to having a plan. In fact, most people supported the idea of having a long-term vision.

“What they wanted was for council to carefully consider how some of the proposed concepts would affect the town’s character, accessibility and day-to-day functionality,” Mr Hadfield said.

The Chamber also hosted its own community information meeting during the exhibition period, which attracted around 100 attendees.

Mr Hadfield said the Chamber’s submission broadly supported the development of a master plan while encouraging council to closely examine the feedback received from the community.

“We understand there will never be complete agreement on every aspect of a project of this scale,” he said.

“However, there were some issues where community sentiment appeared quite clear, and we would encourage council to carefully consider that feedback as they finalise the document.”

Council staff will now review submissions received during the exhibition period and consider potential amendments before the final plan is presented to councillors for consideration of adoption at a future council meeting.

By Rachael THORPE