Johns River

The Village Wish List

SIGNAGE BEAUTIFICATION SPEED LIMITS LAND RELEASE PLAYGROUND GARBAGE BINS

Our "Wish List", the Village Future core issues, involve urban design, amenities and improvements in the main areas of the village.

The Wish List was made at the Inaugural Meeting of the Association and has been slowly developed over the months since as community members, businesses and residents have had their input.

Signage

Moving forward and leading up to Bypass of the Village – The residents have indicated that very effective signage leading up to the village – from both north and south bound directions will be necessary to ensure the village and businesses in the village remain viable.

The Village is both the gateway to the Manning and Hastings and both RTA and Council(s) have a responsibility to ensure that this is achieved. This signage would also indicate services available in the town and links to Tourism and ‘hinterland’ attraction and services also. We do not want to see the town become a ‘ghost town’ – similar to Coopernook.

Another item in relation to signage would be to have a Tourist information Sign – highlighting the area, attractions, places to stay, etc. This would ideally be located in the village where passing traffic – post bypass could view. A central location could be at the local community hall OR it could be located in the rest area described in Point 2.

The issue of having clear signage for ambulances has also been raised, due to a recent reported failure of ambulance staff to locate the village and an accident next to the former service station.

Beautification

Moving forward and leading up to the Bypass of the Village  - the streetscape will be vitally important to attract visitors into the village and of course utilise services, amenities and shop locally.

To achieve this – a complete Main Street Program requires adoption to create a new rest area with toilets and attractive and inviting surroundings –  Here people can ‘Stop Revive Survive’ and then come through the village, buy something and then continue on their journey.

Beautification will also involve taking pride in the local gardens in the village - landscaping some areas and a general tidy up of overgrown/non maintained areas that are currently in existence.

Having a theme for the village will also attract visitors and looking at local heritage – timber, logging and dairy – various stands of native trees and shrubs could line the sides and centre of the through road into the village. There is sufficient carriage way to achieve this balance. A safety refuge island could also be placed in the centre to protect children from passing traffic. Curbing and Guttering of streets in the village would also assist with the beautification.

Speed Limits

Leading up to and post Bypass – reducing the speed limit on Stewarts River Road from 90kph to 50kph to ensure safety of school children existing from buses and crossing the road.

In the main section of the village – reducing the limit from 70kph to 50kph and possibly impose a 40km/hr speed zone during ‘school zone’ times. Post Bypass – all road to be reduced to 50kph at all times.

Release of Land

As a post bypass initiative – the release of existing Crown land – mainly to the south of the village for the expansion of the village. This would support the current primary school, local shop, tavern and community markets.

There are presently various blocks facing John Street that would be ideal for development. One consideration is water and sewerage augmentation. Discussions with GTCC, Mid Coast Water and the State Planning Authority would be required to ensure this becomes a top priority for the village.

Public Lands for Community Use -- There are also odd pockets of Crown Land along the existing road corridor at the western ends of Station and John Streets, highly suitable for parks development.

Gary Doust with the Taree Lands Office has indicated that there are already existing land title claims (under the 1983 act entitling local lands councils to make the claims) on about half of the lands across from and just north of this community hall.

The RTA used it’s powers to take half of this Crown land for the new highway, but did not have the foresight to similarly acquire the other half of that lot (Lot 125 running from Bulley’s Road to opposite Royan Street).    Without the RTA taking full control of this lot, it would take about 10 years including lengthy and costly appeals for Council to gain this lot.

However, once RTA hands over land from the old corridor, Council will have direct control of about half of that area northern forested area, including a nicely located property in the middle of the reserve across from the hall.

Playground for Children

There has been a lack of a dedicated playground for the village for many years due to the removal of the old and uninsurable set of swings at the community hall.  Happily, funds have been allocated to Council from the state, and work is underway to provide a playground for village families in the near future.

As there is limited GTCC land in the village, the Hall Trust is working on an arrangement between the Dept of Lands and GTCC to ensure a solution is found.

Village youth are being consulted under our Youth Activities Subcommittee to flesh out plans for public bike facilities, including bike pathways and for the younger crowd, some bike fun areas.  The ‘skate park’ idea was tabled due to noise concerns.

Public Garbage Bins

At present there is a distinct lack of adequate rubbish disposal in the village. The village is looking for more GTCC bins so visitors to the village can place their rubbish therein – as opposed to filling up resident’s bins.

Suggested locations could be at the John’s River Community Shop, the Community Hall (in park area) or located near the Tavern.