Traders win 12 year battle for streetscaping project

The Corso at Seven Hills will get a major facelift this financial year after a decade of campaigning for improvements.

The Corso business owners and staff George Samios, Marco Pitari, Michael Clem, Emma Langefield and Ashlea Michelle pictured last year campaigning for improvements to the popular precinct. Picture: Renae Droop/AAP

AFTER a 12-year campaign, business owners at The Corso have finally won a million-dollar makeover with funds allocated from Brisbane City Council.

Morningside Councillor Kara Cook said she had been advised the renewal would go ahead this financial year after community consultation on an approved design.

Early concepts, funded by a $40,000 allocation in last year’s budget, include ­improved footpaths better able to handle stormwater run-off, new garden beds and potentially a public art installation.

The upgrade was expected to cost about $1.2 million.

The popular Seven Hills dining and retail precinct had been put forward for streetscaping improvements in consecutive budgets only to be knocked back by the council.

The project was backed by both Labor and the LNP in last year’s by-election but was left out of the picture again when the council announced more than $9 million for five retail centres across the city under the Village Precinct Projects program.

Cr Cook said it had taken more than 12 years of grassroots petitions, letters and lobbying to achieve and praised the perseverance of traders and locals.

“This is a tremendous result and testimony to how traders at The Corso stuck to their principles when many would have given up hope,” Cr Cook said. “Every time they were unfairly treated they dusted themselves off and continued to fight. They channelled their anger into action and have finally been rewarded.

“Traders and locals can now celebrate a new chapter for a great suburban shopping centre that will feature even more charm and character.”

The council was first petitioned to upgrade The Corso in 2007.

Cr Cook said the project also presented an opportunity to fix the Darcy Rd carpark issue.

“It is clear traders and residents want the informal carpark formalised and there has been strong support through a number of petitions for this to occur as a priority,” she said. “I will be talking to traders to get their views and welcome ideas from the public.”

Seven Hills residents had the highest rate rise citywide in this year’s Budget at 5.8 per cent, on the back of increases of more than 27 per cent over the past four financial years.