New dining main street the focus of Mitcham Council vision

PRINCES Rd in Torrens Park would become a main street with a focus on dining under a new Mitcham Council vision.

Should Princes Rd, Torrens Park become a main st with a focus on dining?

PRINCES Rd in Torrens Park would become a main street with a focus on dining under a new Mitcham Council vision.

The idea — released last week as part of an ongoing series of blueprints for the future across the Mitcham district — was included in a concept plan for the Belair and Princes roads area.

It outlined what the council would like to improve the area, which had already become a target for development — first an Aldi supermarket and then the new $5.4 million Mitcham Memorial Library, currently under construction.

Under the vision, the eastern end of Princes Rd would become a “meeting place and dining street” with a focus on “leisure activities”.

It also suggested the carpark behind the north-western end of Mitcham Square shopping centre be turned into a pedestrian plaza. Newark Rd could be realigned to be opposite Grange Rd, where a service station currently stands.

The council chamber and civic centre on the corner of Belair and Newark roads could also become a “mixed-use” site, however, the council’s report was vague on what that could entail.

Higher buildings could be allowed within the centre of the precinct, as well as infill housing — developed with a focus on older residents — in surrounding streets, with possible mixed-use development.

The council would also consider joining with the Transport Department to develop a masterplan for Mitcham Railway Station, after years of struggle to find a purpose for disused buildings at the site.

Boorman Ward councillor Adriana Christopoulos praised the idea of a main street on Princes Rd.

“I’d love to see it happen,” Mrs Christopoulos said.

“I think think there’s potential to provide that for Mitcham. There isn’t a lot there.

“The Torrens Arms Hotel and that strip there would welcome the variety because, when you have a variety of offerings on the street, you have more people coming to visit and eventually that spills into other businesses.”

She wanted it to happen within the next five or 10 years, but she said it was dependent on the support of residents.

“It would be in consultation with the community to see if that’s what they want,” she said.

“There’s an aged care facility at the back of that.”

The Belair Rd area was identified by Mitcham Council last year as one of five key precincts for future development.

The draft plan will now be sent out for community consultation.