The $2.4m renewal project is part of council's local and neighbourhood centres works program, which is a rolling set of improvements to community spaces across the local government area. 

Beresfield’s town centre will benefit from a renewed road surface, wider pedestrian pathways, more public spaces in Beresford Avenue, additional street trees, seating, bike racks and bins.

The upgrades follow extensive community consultation which identified local centre issues and possible solutions, including the public selecting which trees would be planted in the area.  

Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes launched the commencement of construction with council showing a “fly-over” video of how the improvements will look. 

"It's exciting to see this virtual view of how Beresfield local centre will look when this significant project is completed," Cr Nelmes said.

"When watching the video, you immediately notice the prominent "smart poles" which will provide smart lighting and access to Wi-Fi. Beresfield is the first local centre in Newcastle to have smart poles installed.”

The poles are part of council's smart city strategy and were installed in Newcastle’s east end at the end of last year in locations around the city’s Supercars track. 

Each pole provides Wi-Fi to a range of about 100m and energy-efficient, automated-lighting technology.

“Lighting will run all the way through the local centre, but also from the train station right through to the library,” Cr Nelmes said. 

“A lot of work has gone into this project, it’s a whole overhaul of the public domain.”

The first stage of the Beresfield works includes the installation of traffic calming devices at the centre’s entries to help reduce traffic speeds while construction of further upgrades takes place.

Similar upgrades in council’s local and neighbourhood centres works program are set to occur at Carrington, in Llewellyn Street at Merewether and in Stockton. 

“There’s been a significant amount of planning work done over previous financial years,” Cr Nelmes said. “This is the year we are getting the work started on the ground. 

“Having these sustainable and really vibrant local centres is important to all of the local communities in Newcastle. 

“We’re not only doing infrastructure and renewal works to support local businesses in these centres, but also the local neighbourhood. They’re a place where communities come together and meet, as well as transact their day-to-day business.

“It’s really important the right facilities and amenities are provided.”