Studio GL was selected by the Upper Hunter Shire Council to prepare revitalisation plans for the townships of Scone, Aberdeen, Merriwa and Murrurundi. All are established rural towns with a rich history and a committed local community. Council was keen to encourage investment, support revitalisation and provide amenity for local residents as well as facilities to attract visitors.

Each masterplan provides a solid framework for future improvements including an extensive, tailored catalogue of best-practice initiatives that included new landscaping, parking and wayfinding, pedestrian and cycle access, traffic calming and gateway entrance treatments. To ensure local community involvement we ran a series of engagement events including workshops, drop in sessions and online feedback.

The four masterplans were finalised in March 2016, placed on exhibition and adopted in June 2016. Since then community-led Revitalisation Committees in each town have prioritised and implemented many of the recommended initiatives, with projects underway such as public artworks, heritage trails, town branding, visitor signage, footpath upgrades and street tree planting.

Client: Upper Hunter Shire Council

Project date: 2015-2016