In front of almost 100 people who attended the information session on Wednesday evening, Cr Harmon assured them that all the issues they raised would be carefully considered before the plan was put to a future council meeting.

“I urge people to make their views known prior to the closing date for submissions on April 17,” he said. 

“They will also have further opportunities to comment after the community-based project committee has made a final recommendation to council after considering public submissions.

“My door is open and council will welcome any feedback as a result of this meeting or on any issues of concern regarding the plan.”

He paid tribute to the instigators of the Inverell CBD upgrade 20 years ago and emphasised that in the current competitive retail environment, further renewal was required to keep pace with change.

“There is no such thing as standing still because inevitably it means you get left behind,” he said. 

“We are fortunate to have a vibrant and cohesive CBD at present, thanks to the foresight of our former community leaders and we need to keep building on that. 

“Many other towns have paid a high price for failing to renew their central business districts and have seen them gutted through satellite retail developments. 

“We do not want that to happen here which is why we looked for experts in the field to give us some guidance about the most effective way to proceed.”

He said the council allocates $500,000 a year to maintain and upgrade urban infrastructure and the renewal plan would be funded within this budget in a staged process. 

A further $800,000 from reserves would be added to the upgrade budget. 

There would be no rate rise to cover the cost of the upgrade and the current $4.9 million allocated annually to road works within the shire would continue and expand where possible.

Two years ago the council decided to cut the $1million CBD budget in half to allocate an extra $500,000 for roads, and that too, would remain unchanged.  

“The issue for the community with any renewal plan is that it alters the status quo and there are differing views on some of the changes being proposed,” Cr Harmon said. 

 “We have inherited some issues such as the way the plane trees in the centre of town were planted in concrete pipes. 

“As a result many are diseased, and their roots which were supposed to be contained are now damaging underground water and sewage pipes and breaking up surrounding pavements.

“This poses a fall risk to pedestrians and council’s insurance claims over incidents involving these falls have been escalating.”

The mayor said the annual cost of pruning and maintaining the 30 plane trees to prevent the risks they were posing was in the vicinity of $400-$500 per tree. It was a specialist arborist’s job and could not be undertaken by council staff.

“Even with those high costs we cannot be sure of the trees’ long term survival in their current location,” he said. 

“If we do go ahead with their removal, those with the best chance of survival would be relocated to more appropriate parts of town.”

The proposed median strips in the centre of Byron and Otho Streets would slow down traffic in the CBD to make it more pedestrian friendly, without sacrificing the amenity of motorists, Cr Harmon said. 

There would be virtually no reduction in parking spaces and rear to curb parking would be retained.

“At the information meeting we heard many views about the need for shade in the Inverell shopping district during summer and the most suitable trees to deliver that,” he said. 

“Council’s consultant has recommended Pin Oaks to combine with the Pistachias already in place and more which would be planted as outlined in the plan.”

The mayor said installing more modern and functional street furniture would be more comfortable and functional and add to the appearance of the CBD.

“Many members of the community are supporting the plan as it stands and many others have concerns about different aspects of it,” he said. 

“We are canvassing all views and will consider them carefully in the context of our responsibility to keep Inverell’s CBD strong and vibrant for the long term.”