West Wallsend's rich history would be honoured with a heritage trail and other streetscape improvements under a new master plan unveiled by Lake Macquarie City Council.
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The council adopted the draft West Wallsend master plan for exhibition at Monday night's ordinary meeting.
The plan consists of a heritage management strategy, draft streetscape master plan and a pedestrian access and mobility plan.
Lake Macquarie council principal strategic planner Iain Moore said the plan aimed to revitalise public spaces in West Wallsend's town centre while preserving its heritage significance.
It proposes new cycleways to link with nearby networks, trees along city streets in the suburb and a reduced speed limit for safer pedestrian amenity.
"West Wallsend is unique in Lake Macquarie for its location, its concentration of heritage buildings and its importance in our region's mining history," Mr Moore said.
"Capitalising on these attributes will help the suburb thrive in years to come."
The council received $100,000 from the NSW government in 2018 under its Heritage Near Me program to help develop the master plan.
Mr Moore said community consultation undertaken over the past two years had shaped the plan's development.
"The West Wallsend master plan will guide council's investment in the public realm for the local centre over the next 10-15 years, encouraging private investment by using heritage as a key point of difference," he said.
"It includes a number of key potential projects to create an improved built environment, including a central community park and facilities, a 'golden mile' heritage interpretive trail and restored heritage assets.
Some councillors at Monday night's meeting questioned whether on-street parking spaces would be lost as part of the streetscape improvements.
Staff responded by saying it was too early to tell as the draft master plan was a "concept" and any proposals may be altered after community feedback.
Mr Moore said the overarching objectives were to "recognise, conserve and enhance".
"Recognise means identifying, assessing and documenting West Wallsend's heritage," he said.
"Conserve relates to conserving and protecting that heritage, and meeting statutory obligations to do so.
"And enhance refers to celebrating West Wallsend's rich history through increased community awareness and appreciation, and using that as a point of difference to revitalise the suburb."
West Wallsend's coal mining history dates back to 1888, when the first coal was extracted from West Wallsend No.1 Colliery.
By 1910, when a steam tram service commenced, the town was home to 6000 residents, two schools, a railway station and at least five hotels.
The draft West Wallsend master plan is on public exhibition until 7 July at shape.lakemac.com.au.