Vibrant upgrades of Riverwood Town Centre are now complete, with the final touches of the Riverwood Reconnected project completed on Friday.
The revitalisation project’s latest and final addition saw a colourful leaf pattern casing applied to pavement and steps at Williams Road next to Riverwood train station.
The footpath and access stairs to Belmore Road from the Williams Road car park are now adorned with a pattern of tree leaves, giving the impression of leaves gently falling from the canopy above.
The latest works aimed to improve pedestrian connectivity from Riverwood train station while adding a vibrant splash of colour to the urban landscape. The works formed part of a wider innovative urban planning project which saw a series of transformative town centre upgrades over the last 12 months.
The Riverwood Reconnected project received $500,000 and was proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces (round 2) program.
Georges River Council Mayor Sam Elmir said the Riverwood Reconnected project had achieved its mission of improving the walkability and connectivity of previously underutilised urban public spaces on and around Belmore Road.
“This project has really enhanced Riverwood’s town centre and greatly improved the area’s overall amenity and street appeal,” Mayor Elmir said.
“This was a placemaking project designed to improve the town centre by attracting more foot traffic and encouraging more day and night-time economic and cultural activity.
“Main streets are so much more than just a place for the movement of cars, they are important economic and social drivers for our neighbourhoods. They offer community members places to gather and connect and provide people with jobs and services such as shopping, dining, entertainment, and healthcare.”
Earlier project works included the installation of public furniture and shade, more street trees, smart social spaces equipped with smart furniture and Wi-Fi to allow the community to plug and play, and public art to uplift the area.
A colourful mural on Littleton Street by Sydney-based artist Steven Nuttal, also known as Ox King, formed an earlier stage of the project and depicts a cluster of flowers from plants native to the area including common Sydney Golden Wattle and rare and endangered plants including Magenta Lilly Pilly and the Gosford Wattle.
The Riverwood Reconnected project was made possible by grant funding from the NSW Government’s award-winning Streets as Shared Spaces program and showcases the power of community collaboration and innovative urban planning.
The was initially launched in May 2020 as a response to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and sought to enhance public spaces across New South Wales. The program provided a platform for councils, community members, and stakeholders to experiment with temporary interventions and pop-ups, setting the stage for more enduring enhancements.
Following the success of the program’s pilot phase, a second round of funding totalling $20 million was announced in October 2021. Georges River Council seized the opportunity and was awarded a $500,000 grant in April 2022 to bring the Riverwood Reconnected project to life.
“The Riverwood Reconnected project is a great example of community-driven improvements and highlights how innovative urban planning can bring life and vibrancy to local areas,” Mayor Elmir said.
“I hope Riverwood’s residents are as delighted as I am with their new shared spaces. I’d also like to invite everyone else from our area, and right across Sydney, who is yet to see this transformation to visit the Riverwood town centre to take a look for themselves, and to linger for some lunch, a coffee, or to browse its local businesses.”
Georges River Council would like to thank the NSW Government for providing grant funding and support to make this project possible.
