Plans for the makeover of Murrumburrah have now been completed following extensive preliminary works carried out by Harden Shires Manager of Services, Mr Brian Burge.
Mr Burge is no stranger to major projects and improving the aesthetics of an area with several notable projects already under his belt, having worked for a number of councils including Goulburn City and Mulwaree Shires, Tallagandra and Yarralumla Shires and Cootamundra Shire.
His most notable achievements locally have been the work he has done with the Boorowa Shire Council. At Boorowa Mr Burge was responsible for completing design work for a number of their roads including the road from Boorowa to Rugby which has now been tarred right to the boundary with Crookwell and also for surveying and designing Boorowa’s main street upgrade which has earned the town, and his design work much praise.
For Murrumburrah Mr Burge has been working with shop keepers and some residents of Murrumburrah and has taken on board recommendations that he has received to come up with a preliminary plan.
“A major consideration for the design is to enhance the heritage nature of Murrumburrah and its old world charm”, Mr Burge said.
The makeover will keep in with the fashion and style of the town with a number of key elements being employed such as hitching posts and wrought iron type street furniture and lighting.
The footpaths will also be widened in sections and traffic calming islands will run down the middle of Albury Street.
The trees along the footpaths in Murrumburrah have caused many problems with the surface over the years and will be removed to be replaced by a series of islands similar to those in Neill St, Harden, but will also incorporate garden beds.
Steven Byrne who owns the Old Barnes Building in Murrumburrah is looking forward to the works beginning and said “When completed it should look fantastic”.
Steven also has plans to construct a veranda over the footpath in front of the building, which is part of the plan to restore the building.
The work on the Barnes building, next door to the recently restored Murrumburrah Post Office, combined with the streetscape works will go a long way in lifting the looks of Murrumburrah and the Harden Shire, which has received criticism for looking dead and decaying with many buildings desperately needing a makeover of their own.
The Murrumburrah makeover which is being funded by the Federal Government, Shires Stimulus Package and money put aside in the last Harden Shire budget, could be just the shot in the arm the town needs to inspire building owners on both sides of the Murrimboola to take pride in their buildings and improve the area, status as a place to visit, which is an important step in the quest to attract tourism to the twin towns.
Harden has not been left out of the equation as Mr Burge has also drawn up a number of conceptual plans for Neill Street which includes a number of roundabouts and garden bed traffic islands and line marking. Mr Burge said he was hoping the Harden plans would help to create some interest and to help the Shire secure some funding to carry out the works. The Neill Street plans will be on display in the front window of the Express office.
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