Council is inviting people who live, work, shop and play in Bayswater to have their say on opportunities to improve the Bayswater shopping precinct and surrounding area.
Opportunities include revitalising the town centre, expanded outdoor dining and eating spaces, safe connections for pedestrians and cyclists, increased tree planting and potential development of a new community hub.
There is also an opportunity to bring more people and activity to the centre by allowing medium and higher density housing on larger redevelopment sites that would provide more diverse and affordable options for people wanting to live in Bayswater.
Knox Mayor Cr Susan Laukens said bringing more people to the heart of Bayswater would be good for business and create a safer, more vibrant community feel.
“More housing in the central precinct would attract more people to the shopping strip, increasing its vibrancy and desirability as a place to live, work and play,” she said.
“Bayswater’s population is growing and over the next decade the suburb will need more homes and more diverse housing choices for new residents.
“Allowing for moderate growth in areas close to shops, services and public transport allows us to protect residential neighbourhoods on the fringes of these precincts from inappropriate development,” she said.
Cr Laukens said there was a significant opportunity to transform the area known as Penguin Place into the new town centre of Bayswater.
“This would see streetscape upgrades such as improvements to landscaping, new places to sit down and relax, installation of public art and better connections to the train station for pedestrians and cyclists,” she said.
“Bayswater is a hub for services, employment, public transport and housing, and is a destination for convenience shopping, food outlets and retail services.
“In the past 15 years, Bayswater has benefited from the redevelopment of Mountain High Shopping Centre, removal of the level crossing at Mountain Highway and the new Bayswater train station.”
Locals are invited to provide feedback on these opportunities which will shape a strategy to guide future development within the precinct over the next 30 years.
