Castle Hill Main Street Project
Latest Information
Beautification works have been completed, transtorming Castle Hill’s main street into a vibrant and attractive town centre, with new paving, lighting, street tree planting and the creation of alfresco dining areas.
Old Northern Road is open to through traffic between Showground Road and Crane Road.
The Castle Hill Main Street Project is entering the next phase that will address pedestrian safety and access in the town centre, with the construction of footpaths along Old Northern Road and Showground Road set to commence in the coming weeks. The footpath construction work will occur in three separate stages.
First stage – cnr Showground Rd and Old Northern Rd near Castle Towers outdoor carpark
The first stage involves extending the new paving treatment on the Castle Hill Main Street from Old Northern Road around the corner into Showground Road. Motorists travelling along Showground Road towards Old Northern Road will be directed to merge into one lane nearing the top of Showground Road. This is necessary to provide a safe construction area for workers. The left turn from Showground Road into Old Northern Road will be banned during this stage.
Second & third stages – Showground Rd and Old Northern Rd between Barwell and Cecil Ave
During these stages, new footpaths, lighting and landscaping will be constructed. Work will commence in Showground Road in front of the shops near Barwell Avenue and continue around the corner along the western side of Old Northern Road as far as Cecil Avenue. Work will then continue on the opposite (eastern) side of Old Northern Road from Cecil Avenue to Showground Road.
During the works, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction at different times to provide for safe working areas. Motorists travelling through this area will be directed to merge into one lane in each direction. Some delays may be expected however, the roads through the area will remain open.
Residents looking for more information can contact Council’s Main Street Project Liaison Officer, Stephen Barnes, on 9843 0496 or visit the Castle Hill Main Street Project Office - now open at the NEW location of 265 Old Northern Road, Castle Hill – during business hours.
Castle Hill Main Street Vision
Council’s vision of creating vibrant communities is being realised with the proposed plans for the revitalisation of Castle Hill’s main street. Proposed design plans for the Castle Hill Main Street Project incorporate the creation of an urban transport hub and beautification of Old Northern Road.
A safe and secure public domain, enhanced pedestrian movement in and around the main street and calmed traffic along Old Northern Road are all key elements of the plan. Council's goal is the creation of a a vibrant and energetic place where people can shop, relax and meet in a modern, convenient setting – with better paving, seating, lighting and green open spaces.”
The original plan ‘The Castle Hill Masterplan’ was developed in 1999, and has since been reviewed to incorporate recent additions to the town centre including the ring road; the proposed Castle Hill transport interchange; plans for the Castle Hill Town Centre and the future development of Castle Towers.
The plan takes full advantage of existing and proposed public transport opportunities and preserves and protects significant heritage items. Under the proposals, Arthur Whitling Park is set to become a unified public space, linking the bus interchange to parkland via a café and extended seating areas. A new playground is planned, and native street tree plantings will be integrated with existing services.
Public art – banners, feature walls, engravings and lighting are all incorporated to create a sense of community.
A Main Street planning study and Masterplan was carried out and adopted by The Hills Shire Council in 1999. A portion of the proposed development stages identified in the Masterplan, have been implemented or completed since that time. With the construction of the Eastern Ring Road bypass around Castle Hill CBD, the revitalisation of the Castle Hill Town Centre is now a high priority for The Hills Shire Council. In line with this priority, Council resolved in December 2007 that;
“The Main Street Masterplan (1999) be subject to review in consultation with the adjacent property owners and tenants to reflect the recommendations of the Castle Hill Bus Interchange report and possible implications of the Stage 3 Castle Towers DA and the Draft Terminus Street Precinct Masterplan”.
A major focus of the previously adopted Masterplan is the section from Showground Road, through to and including the intersection of Crane and Castle Street, which is funded for construction in Council’s Capital Works Program in 2008/09.
The following outlines the review of the Masterplan and the subsequent development of a concept design scheme for Main Street proposals to Old Northern Road between Cecil Avenue and Terminus Street.
.jpg)
Timeframe:
Work on the Main Street Project is beginning with the upgrade to be carried out in two stages.
Stage one involves work along Old Northern Road from Cecil Avenue through to Crane Road.
Stage two involves work from crane Road to Terminus Street, including the improvements to Arthur Whitling Park.
Key Objectives
Council has identified the following vision for the Castle Hill Town Centre.
“The CBD as the heart of the community, should be a vibrant and energetic place with pedestrian activity, restaurants, cafés, retail services and places for people to enjoy and meet taking full advantage of existing and proposed public transport opportunities and significant heritage items”
The Main Street improvement program aims to promote this vision through Main Street improvements that will enhance pedestrian amenity and promote a revitalised identity for Old Northern Road.
Community Values
.jpg)
The Masterplan review aims to respond to the diverse range of community values of the Castle Hill Town Centre including:
- Main Street as a meeting and recreation place
- Safe and secure public domain
- Improved park as major community “green space” and events venue
- The Garden Shire - importance of green space, planting, and trees
- Range of heritage themes:
- War Memorial
- Great Northern Road route
- Past tramway, railway and transport
- School house
- Agricultural history (orcharding) of area
- Aboriginal heritage
Project Information
The 1999 Castle Hill Masterplan identifi ed an integrated strategy for development of the centre through which a ring road system enabled traffi c calming, public domain improvements and upgraded pedestrian amenity to Old Northern Road.
The review of the masterplan aims to consider:
- Construction of the Western and Eastern Ring Roads
- Adoption of concept design for the Castle Hill Transport Interchange (2008)
- Development of the Terminus Street Precinct Masterplan (2007)
- Future development of the Castle Towers Centre
.jpg)
Main Street
- Old Northern Road “Main Street” as pedestrian movement / civic focus
- Connections between “Main Street” and adjoining precinct
- Series of public spaces with varied roles and scales
- Outdoor dining / cafes encouraged in areas of adequate space and higher amenity
- Explore opportunties for, and implications of, parking provision to Old Northern Road
Arthur Whitling Park
- Plaza / park developed at interchange linking interchange to parkland area as unified public space
- Reinforce link to park along pedestrian spine
- Reinforce link between interchange and park through café facility and extend seating areas
- Reinforce link between the interchange and park through playground facilities complimenting interchange café
Milestones
- Formal report presented at 12 August meeting for Adoption by Council
- Develop detailed design and estimate
- Commence construction in 2010
Photo Galleries
Concept Gallery
Construction Gallery
Media Releases
12 June 2009 - Castle Hill Main Street set to become a vibrant meeting place
12 March 2010 - Council is building a better Castle Hill Main Street
Concept Documents
The revised masterplan and draft concept design were placed on public exhibition until 15 July, 2008. Submissions have now closed.
Attachments:
Main Street Information Panel 1 - 883 KB
Main Street Information Panel 2 and 3 - 1,290 KB
Main Street Information Panel 4 - 1,358 KB
Main Street Information Panel 5 - 1,350 KB
Contacts and Further Information
For further information contact Council’s Principal Traffic and Transport Coordinator, Stephen Barnes on 02 9843 0496 or 0434 565 938 or sbarnes@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Back to top