Lake Macquarie City Council has unveiled draft plans for its $3 million transformation of Pearson Street Mall in Charlestown.
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The council has placed concept designs on public exhibition until August 30, following community consultation conducted in 2017.
The revitalisation project includes new landscaping, free public Wi-Fi, environmental sensors and provision for food trucks and market stalls.
The council's manager of assets management, Helen Plummer, said Pearson Street Mall would become a test-bed for new technology and innovation for civic projects.
"The mall acts as a pedestrian gateway to our city's largest urban and retail hub," she said.
"This reimagining of the space will capitalise on that significant potential."
Dubbed the Charlestown Innovation Precinct (CHiP), the site will also include shade structures, seating and public art installations, which are yet to be commissioned.
"With the seating, shade and Wi-Fi, we're really aiming to make it a place where people will want to stop and stay, rather than just pass through," Ms Plummer said.
"We'll also be replacing trees in the mall with mature specimens more suited to the local environment and less likely to cause damage related to the subterranean spread of roots.
"The total project budget is $3 million, which covers all civil works and infrastructure involved in the upgrade."
Sensors will constantly measure air temperature and quality in the area, with the data sent live to an online interface via Lake Macquarie's Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN).
"This data will help shed light on how the built environment, traffic and other urban factors affect environmental conditions at a very localised level," Ms Plummer said.
The revamp is set to complement extensive work underway by GPT, owner of Charlestown Square, which is transforming its north piazza into a food and beverage precinct to be known as The Corner.
Council staff will be on-site from 11am to 1pm on Thursday, August 15 to discuss draft design and take feedback. Comment can also be made online.
Pending feedback, construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2020 and be completed in early 2021.
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