Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan

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What Bathurst Said

The Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan provides a vision for improving seven city blocks within the Bathurst CBD, an area known as the Bathurst Town Centre.

Allen Jack + Cottier Architects (AJ+C) were invited to prepare the Master Plan for Bathurst Regional Council. The project was co-sponsored by Charles Sturt University (CSU), who were investigating the opportunities for a presence in the Bathurst CBD.

The Master Plan outlines AJ+C’s analysis of the existing condition of the Town Centre, the outcomes of stakeholder and community engagement undertaken in the development of the draft plan, and then makes several site or area-specific recommendations as well as CBD-wide master plan proposals. As CSU decided not to proceed with an investigation of a CBD presence, several options initially explored for campus facilities were subsequently identified as opportunities open for other uses.

‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan, summarises the key concepts proposed in the A J + C Master Plan. The ‘Futureproofing our CBD’ response did not recommend wholesale adoption of the Master Plan but outlined those elements of the Master Plan considered by Council to be appropriate for implementation into the future.

The community’s response to Council’s ‘Futureproofing Our CBD’ report was sought through a formal public exhibition process. “Futureproofing Our CBD” was exhibited for a one-month period with submissions closing on 24 May 2021. Late submissions were accepted.

As a result of the public exhibition process two hundred and six (206) submissions were received from members of the community as follows:

  • 69 submissions from individuals
  • 9 submissions that were identifiable as being from a business or landowner in the CBD
  • 7 submissions from community groups
  • 121 submissions based on a pro-forma survey prepared by a community member.

Council also received a petition against the proposed closure of Russell Street prior to the public exhibition period commencing. The petition was signed by 1,259 persons.

A range of voices were heard and messages received during the public exhibition period. These have been collated in the report: Futureproofing our CBD (Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan) – “What Bathurst Said”.

The “What Bathurst Said” report is presented in five volumes (available from the document library) as follows:

  • Volume 1 (Submission Summary) summarises the public exhibition process. It collates and summarises the range of matters raised at the public information sessions and from the range of submissions received as a result of the public exhibition process.
  • Volume 2 (Key Messages) provides a summary of the key messages heard against Council’s Futureproofing our CBD response to the Master Plan.
  • Volume 3 (Copy of Submissions) contains copies of the individual submissions received during the public exhibition process.
  • Volume 4 - parts 1 and 2 (Copy of Pro Forma Submissions) contains copies of the pro forma submissions received during the public exhibition process.
  • Volume 5 (Copy of Petition) contains a copy of the petition received prior to the public exhibition process against a permanent road closure of Russell St.

A broader summary of the key messages heard is also provided in the document library.

Where to from here

Council staff are currently developing a final response for Council to consider with respect to the AJ+C Master Plan, through a revision of the “Futureproofing our CBD” report. Council’s final response to the Master Plan will consider the response from the community as summarised in the “What Bathurst Said” report.

A revised “Futureproofing our CBD” report will be presented to Council for its consideration early in 2022.


What Bathurst Said

The Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan provides a vision for improving seven city blocks within the Bathurst CBD, an area known as the Bathurst Town Centre.

Allen Jack + Cottier Architects (AJ+C) were invited to prepare the Master Plan for Bathurst Regional Council. The project was co-sponsored by Charles Sturt University (CSU), who were investigating the opportunities for a presence in the Bathurst CBD.

The Master Plan outlines AJ+C’s analysis of the existing condition of the Town Centre, the outcomes of stakeholder and community engagement undertaken in the development of the draft plan, and then makes several site or area-specific recommendations as well as CBD-wide master plan proposals. As CSU decided not to proceed with an investigation of a CBD presence, several options initially explored for campus facilities were subsequently identified as opportunities open for other uses.

‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan, summarises the key concepts proposed in the A J + C Master Plan. The ‘Futureproofing our CBD’ response did not recommend wholesale adoption of the Master Plan but outlined those elements of the Master Plan considered by Council to be appropriate for implementation into the future.

The community’s response to Council’s ‘Futureproofing Our CBD’ report was sought through a formal public exhibition process. “Futureproofing Our CBD” was exhibited for a one-month period with submissions closing on 24 May 2021. Late submissions were accepted.

As a result of the public exhibition process two hundred and six (206) submissions were received from members of the community as follows:

  • 69 submissions from individuals
  • 9 submissions that were identifiable as being from a business or landowner in the CBD
  • 7 submissions from community groups
  • 121 submissions based on a pro-forma survey prepared by a community member.

Council also received a petition against the proposed closure of Russell Street prior to the public exhibition period commencing. The petition was signed by 1,259 persons.

A range of voices were heard and messages received during the public exhibition period. These have been collated in the report: Futureproofing our CBD (Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan) – “What Bathurst Said”.

The “What Bathurst Said” report is presented in five volumes (available from the document library) as follows:

  • Volume 1 (Submission Summary) summarises the public exhibition process. It collates and summarises the range of matters raised at the public information sessions and from the range of submissions received as a result of the public exhibition process.
  • Volume 2 (Key Messages) provides a summary of the key messages heard against Council’s Futureproofing our CBD response to the Master Plan.
  • Volume 3 (Copy of Submissions) contains copies of the individual submissions received during the public exhibition process.
  • Volume 4 - parts 1 and 2 (Copy of Pro Forma Submissions) contains copies of the pro forma submissions received during the public exhibition process.
  • Volume 5 (Copy of Petition) contains a copy of the petition received prior to the public exhibition process against a permanent road closure of Russell St.

A broader summary of the key messages heard is also provided in the document library.

Where to from here

Council staff are currently developing a final response for Council to consider with respect to the AJ+C Master Plan, through a revision of the “Futureproofing our CBD” report. Council’s final response to the Master Plan will consider the response from the community as summarised in the “What Bathurst Said” report.

A revised “Futureproofing our CBD” report will be presented to Council for its consideration early in 2022.

  • Public Exhibition Process

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    Council has placed on public exhibition the report: “Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan.

    Allen Jack + Cottier Architects (AJ+C) were invited to prepare the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan for Bathurst Regional Council (BRC). The project was co-sponsored by Charles Sturt University (CSU), who were investigating the opportunities for a Bathurst CBD Campus.

    The Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan (the Master Plan) provides a vision for improving seven city blocks within the Bathurst CBD, an area known as the Bathurst Town Centre.

    The Master Plan outlines AJ+C’s analysis of the existing condition of the Town Centre, the outcomes of stakeholder and community engagement undertaken in the development of the draft plan, and then makes several site or area-specific recommendations as well as Centre-wide master plan proposals. As CSU has decided not to proceed with an investigation of a CBD Campus, several options explored for campus facilities have been identified as open opportunities for other uses.

    The A J+C Master Plan adopts a ‘People-First’ design approach for future changes in the CBD. People-First means giving people on foot and/or on cycle priority over vehicles wherever possible, to ensure their actual and perceived safety. This will encourage people to come to the CBD more often, stay for longer, and walk further to more businesses.

    ‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan supports the Master Plans core principle of a ‘People-First’ approach to street design but balances that approach against the community’s desire to ensure adequate parking and vehicle access can be maintained and enhanced within the CBD.

    ‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan summarises the key concepts proposed in the A J + C Master Plan and Council’s response for which feedback from the community is now sought through a public exhibition process.

    The “Futureproofing our CBD” Report does not recommend wholesale adoption of the Master Plan but outlines those elements of the Master Plan considered appropriate for consideration of their implementation into the future. Importantly the report identifies options to trial many concepts within the Master Plan that put People-First without undertaking permanent change in the short to medium term.

    A copy of the following documents are provided in the document library:

    • ‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan
    • Summary table of ‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Summary Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan
    • Allen Jack + Cottier Architects (AJ+C), 2021, Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan.

    Council is now inviting community feedback on those elements of the Master Plan that Council is considering for future implementation as outlined in the report: ‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan.

    For those interested in finding out more, Council will be holding information sessions (you only need attend one session) at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) as follows:

    Monday 3rd May 2021

    Session 1: 8am – 9.30am

    Session 2: 12pm – 1.30pm

    Session 3: 5pm – 6.30pm

    To ensure these information sessions are COVIDsafe you must RSVP to Council if you would like to attend one of the sessions. Registration to attend a session can be made by contacting Council’s Environmental, Planning & Building Services Department on 6333 6511 or 6333 6240 or via email council@bathurst.nsw.gov.au.

    Submissions in relation to the ‘Futureproofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan should be received by Council by Monday 24 May 2021.

  • ‘Future Proofing our CBD’, Council’s Response to the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan

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    Bathurst Regional Council, with the support of Charles Sturt University, has engaged Allen Jack+Cottier Architects Pty Ltd to prepare the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan.

    The key aims of the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan are to provide a strategy to:

    • Strengthen the Bathurst Town Centre as a regional business and cultural hub.
    • Strengthen Bathurst’s position as a regional education hub, including through a potential Charles Sturt University presence in the CBD.
    • Consider adaptive reuse options for the former TAFE site.
    • Identify and improve key linkages and thoroughfares within the Bathurst Town Centre.
    • Complement the heritage character of the Bathurst Town Centre.

    Seven blocks within the centre of Bathurst form a part of the Master Plan being developed. A map is attached in the document library.

    The Stage 2 engagement outlining possible design concepts being considered for inclusion in the draft Master Plan has concluded. These concepts can still be viewed via the public webinar from 2 July 2020 hosted by A J & C Architects which talks through the current concept design work for the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan.

    The webinar can be viewed here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edWCjQ42DR0

    The Stage 2 engagement is now informing the development and finalisation of a draft Master Plan for consideration by Council.

    Further community engagement is anticipated upon consideration of a draft Master Plan by the Council over the coming months.

  • Public Webinar

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    The next stage of engagement for the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan is underway. Given the circumstances surrounding the COVID crisis and ongoing social distancing measures this engagement will be undertaken on line.

    Council’s consultants Allen Jack + Cottier Architects will host a public webinar to talk through the current concept design work for the Bathurst Town Centre Master Plan.

    The webinar will be held on Thursday 2 July from 6pm to 7pm. The link to obtain a ticket to the webinar is: https://btcmp.eventbrite.com.au

  • Community drop-in engagement sessions

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    On Tuesday 10 March, the consultants will be in Bathurst to hear about the community’s vision for the Bathurst Town Centre.

    Community members are invited to attend drop-in engagement sessions to discuss their vision with Council’s consultants.

    The drop-in engagement sessions are as follows:

    • 11.30am -1.30pm: Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) William Street
    • 2.30pm - 4pm: Charles Sturt University Library, Room 322, Building 1412, Panorama Avenue
    • 5.30pm - 7pm: Bathurst MEmorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC), William Street

    At the beginning of each session a brief presentation will be made by the consultants followed by individual and group discussions with members of the public. Please feel free to drop-in to any session at a time that suits you.

    For further information please contact Council’s Manager Strategic Planner, Janet Bingham on 63336211 for the BMEC sessions; or Charles Sturt University’s Project Manager Mary-Ann Keith on 63386264 for the Charles Sturt University session.


Page last updated: 03 Nov 2021, 09:22 AM