Community Feedback

We asked the community to share their thoughts on the draft McLaren Vale Main Road concept plan through an online survey, feedback collection and an in-person information session.

Overall, the community were supportive of the streetscape elements except for the loss of car parking, alfresco dining and visual cues.

The online survey asked participants to select their preferred landscape style, the options for selection included:

• Formal traditional
• Informal Australian
• Textured / Succulent

Over 51.6% of respondents supported an Informal Australian landscape style along the street (image below).

Feedback on the draft concept plan was collated and grouped into themes. Support for the project varied across two distinct areas, to further understand the feedback we separated out responses based on whether the feedback related to streetscape elements or the visual cues.

Streetscape Elements

184 comments out of the total feedback provided, specifically addressed the streetscape elements within the concept plan, of those responses there was strong support for the inclusion of greenery, lighting and arbours.

People however raised concerns for the reduction of car parking and alfresco dining.

The main concerns raised about the streetscape elements included:

• Loss of car parking.
• Concerns raised regarding road safety and locating an outdoor dining near a smoking area.
• Perception of the project as a waste of public money.

The engagement results indicate strong support for several streetscape elements and council will now proceed with the next phase of finalising detailed designs for the streetscape improvements whilst addressing concerns by:

• Developing a landscape design featuring Australian native plant species.
• Removing the built-out area adjacent to the Fruit Packers building (accommodating the Fruchocs and the Bloke Shop businesses) to retain the car park.
• Retaining the built-out area near the McLaren Vale Hotel for alfresco dining, with this feature to only be delivered if funded by the hotel. Council will collaborate with the hotel to ensure safety through the design development process.

Visual Cues

The visual cues aim to create an installation that encourages visitors to stop and explore the street, strengthening the main street as a tourism destination and developing a nighttime economy. This is crucial to achieving the project's objectives of revitalising the tourism offering and potential of Main Road McLaren Vale to create and support economic opportunities for local businesses.

We received 89 responses specifically regarding the visual cues.

Concerns raised as part of the community engagement process in relation to the visual cues included colour selection and a perception that the visual cues were not in keeping with the character and heritage of the area. There were also several suggestions that the visual cues could be reduced or moved to another location.

In consideration of these concerns, We will:

• Reduce the number of visual cues from 21 pillars across two sites to 15 pillars at one site.
• Incorporate four interpretive elements, including ‘viewfinders’ in the pillars showing images of the surrounding locality.

Funding for the visual cues was approved by Council several years ago so is not related to the 2024/2025 budget process.

Please find the final Concept Plan [here]. We will continue progressing the project (incorporating the mentioned changes) to detailed design and construction.

Necessary approvals will also be required prior to commencing the streetscape upgrades and visual cues including development approval in accordance with relevant planning policy. We will continue to work closely with the McLaren Vale Business and Tourism Association, affected businesses, and stakeholders as we move towards finalising the detailed design.