Kangaroo Island

Key towns on KI getting major facelift in huge revitalisation project

Four key townships in Kangaroo Island will begin an overhaul later this month.

Photo credit: Kangaroo Island Council

Work has begun on the Kingscote ‘Town Centre Project’ on Kangaroo Island.

Axiom Projects SA has been awarded the contract for Phase 1 of the project with works beginning later this month.

The four key townships include Kingscote, Penneshaw, American River and Parndana with each of the town’s projects having received a strong level of support during considerable community consultation last year.

The vision and plans for this project have been shaped and influenced by the representative township progress associations.

“Revitalising these townships is critical to attracting tourists and local consumers, supporting our tourism and hospitality sectors that have suffered a significant downturn in international tourist visitation due to COVID-19,” Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly said.

“The beautification of these townships will assist Council in attracting new investment, stimulate economic development, support existing business and encourage new businesses to set up Kangaroo Island.

“It will create new job opportunities for residents and career pathways for our young people.

“Covid-19 has created delays in securing an appropriate contractor to deliver the project. Council wishes to thank the community for their patience during construction,” he said.

Council will be working closely with traders and progress associations throughout the project.

Key works include:

Kingscote

Works will start in Kingscote March that includes improved pedestrian access through flushed kerbs and raised crossings, widen and resurfaced footpaths, street planting and furniture. No works will be undertaken over the Easter period.

Proposed Dauncey Street, Kingscote

American River

Scheduled to begin in June/July, the improvements will be made to the town centre appearance by better definition of pedestrian and vehicle areas (including parking and footpaths) along Tangara Drive and around the wharf precinct, as well as coastal-tolerant native street and tree planting and furnishings. The proposed works will enable safer pedestrian movement and an overall tidier and better-defined American River town centre.

American River Foreshore

Penneshaw

Works are scheduled to begin in July and will begin with furniture replacement on North Terrace followed by works in Middle Terrace which will include additional protuberances to create passive speed reduction, a greener and more attractive main street to compliment existing planting.

Parndana

Scheduled for August, the works here include street planting to reduce the scale and improve the appearance of Cook Street, with the creation of a town square in Cook Street helping create a destination for locals and visitors.

Vibrant artwork, furniture, reclaimed materials and planting in this space will improve the appeal of the town centre.

Phase 1 of the Town Centres Project has been funded by the SA Government’s Open Spaces and Places for People grant and the Commonwealth Drought Communities Program.

Council has applied for funding for Phase 2 of the Town Centres Project through the Building Better Regions Fund – Round 6 will create approximately 68 new jobs over the lifetime of the project.

For more information about the Town Centre’s Project, visit the Council’s website here.

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