Help shape Cowes streetscape works

BASS Coast Shire Council is seeking community feedback on the draft Cowes Streetscape Master Plan.

The Master Plan sets out options for the improvement of Cowes’ main community and visitor activity hub on Thompson Avenue, The Esplanade and Bass Avenue, and respond to population and tourism growth by delivering an attractive social, dining and retail environment, prioritising pedestrian use.

Community consultation on the draft concepts will open on Monday, August 29 and close on Sunday, October 2.

Drop-in sessions are also being held to view the plans and provide feedback in person. The sessions will be held at Olive Justice Place, 70 Chapel Street Cowes on:

Tuesday, September 20 from 10.00am to 1.00pm

Thursday, September 22 from 3.00pm to 5.00pm

Saturday, October 1 from 11.00am to 1.00pm

The Cowes Streetscape Master Plan Project aims to connect the township to the foreshore, reinvigorate the character of Cowes, and change the transport modal hierarchy in favour of pedestrians and promote sustainable mobility.

The Master Plan addresses incentives to ride and walk by providing protected bike lanes which will create safe and comfortable environments to travel, ensuring safe access to all pedestrians, and shared streetscapes.

This project is part of the greater Cowes Activity Centre Plan.

Some of the greatest changes will occur in Thompson Ave between Chapel Street and The Esplanade, with traffic transitioning to one-way southbound vehicle traffic only with limited parallel parking options.

In Section 1 – Thompson Avenue North and The Esplanade, the current 66 parking spaces will be reduced to 24 with four taxi rank spaces.

Section 2 parking will be reduced from 73 to 61, Section 3 – Chapel Street to 41 from 46, Section 5 – Church Street will transition from 12 spaces and 12 informal spaces to 11 parking spaces, whilst

Bass Avenue will revert from 6 formal and 42 informal spaces to 40 parking spaces in the short-term plan and 58 in the long-term plan.

For more information, provide your feedback or to receive updates on this project, visit engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/streetscapescowes