The first stage of the Parkes CBD Vibrancy Project has been put into action with the construction of temporary outdoor dining platforms in Church Street.
The project aims to add interest and ex- citement to the main street and adjoining streets to improve the CBD for shopping, working, living and visiting. The dining platforms have been exclusively designed for Parkes Shire Council as modular and transportable infrastructure that will allow businesses to increase their dining capacity and expand the outdoor dining options.
The platforms are particularly suited to businesses adjoining parallel parking spaces with the platform designed to occupy a car parking space and sit between the gutter and fog line with easy access from the footpath. The platform includes side barricades and a shade structure with businesses required to supply chairs, tables and any additional accessories.
Parkes Shire Council’s Economic & Business Development Manager, Anna Wyllie said “after a competitive expression of interest process for the pilot phase, the first dining platform will be trialled with Bella’s Café & Italian Restaurant”.
“Bella’s application for the trial was strong due to their seven day per week operating hours for breakfast, lunch and dinner which allows us to thoroughly test the dining ex- tension. The location in Church Street with access to the northerly entrance of the establishment was also appealing given there will be minimised impact on parking and traffic as opposed to a main street location.”
The dining platform trial compliments other detailed planning and consultation under- way for the southern end of the CBD which include improvements to the road surface, footpaths, parking, lighting, building access and signage. The plans for lower Clarinda Street are on exhibition and can be viewed via Council’s website or at the Administration Centre in Cecile Street.