Main St upgrade to boost tourism and business opportunities in Gumeracha
A $3.9 million upgrade of Gumeracha’s main street has started with locals hopeful it will attract more tourists and business opportunities to the popular Hills town.
Adelaide Hills
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Gumeracha’s main street is poised for a $3.9 million upgrade after years of planning.
Adelaide Hills Council has committed the bulk of funding – $3 million – to underground power lines, while an additional $500,000 will go towards streetscaping, including the creation of a major public artwork.
A further $400,000 will also be invested to control stormwater on Albert St, between the Soldiers Memorial Hospital and Randell Tce.
All work is expected to be completed by March 2021.
Founder of the Gumeracha Main Street Project Group, Chelsea Lewis, said the overhaul had been 20 years in the making.
“Historically, there’s been community efforts going on for more than 20 years but the current energy has been going since 2016, so that’s when we started actively pushing for the upgrades,” she said.
“Since then, we have worked with the council every step of the way, which has led to where we are now.
“One of the things people wanted for a long time, was getting power lines underground. That’s always been one of the main goals for us so it’s great to see that it’s finally happening.”
Ms Lewis said the main st upgrade formed part of Gumeracha’s 10-year town plan.
“The three main things that motivate what’s happening around here is business sustainability, for the street to be beautiful and inviting, and for traffic to be slowed,” she said.
“We’re starting to achieve a lot of that and it’s been through a lot of hard work by the community.
“Only a few years ago, there were several empty shops here but now all the shops are full, as more businesses have popped up along the main street, including The Good Pantry Cafe and (gift shop) Peregrine.
“We’ve also held a number of events, including the Winter Solstice, created the Fifth Sunday Market, saved a fallen tree and turned logs into seating for the main street, put up artwork, redid two bus shelters, and created our own wine, which has almost sold out and with all funds going back to the community.”
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Small business owner Danielle Morris, who opened the The Good Pantry Cafe in 2017, said gradual upgrades of the town’s main street were already paying off.
“The upgrade helps with people actually wanting to stay and the new seating and artworks help draw people here. I’ve had a number of customers come in saying they were noticing the changes,” she said.
“I’m also looking forward to the power poles being gone as, structurally, it will be better on the eye and people will hopefully notice the business a bit more.”