MURRINDINDI: About those Grant St rumours
Murrindindi Shire Council CEO Livia Bonazzi (pictured) has addressed rumours about the development of Grant St, Alexandra.
Resident Abdrea Cohen said: “I have heard rumours today regarding the large scale redevelopment of Grant St in Alexandra, including removal of centre of road parking (and trees?) and 45 degree angle parking to be introduced.
“I have not seen any call for community consultation and therefore assume there are no plans of any kind for works to be done, as extensive community consultation would be required before any such change was designed, let alone implemented.
“Having seen consultation processes for other council development projects occur after plans were decided (in other words, ticking a box but not actually consulting at all), I wish to know how council will respond?” Ms Cohen said.
Ms Bonazzi replied: “Council has consistently demonstrated a commitment to undertake genuine and meaningful consultation and seeks to obtain, consider and incorporate community feedback when developing plans and strategies that affect our communities.
“This feedback directly informs the evolution of projects before decisions are made and it is not a “tick the box” exercise. While every individual perspective is important and respected, it is not always possible to accommodate every preference, and Council must ultimately balance competing views and act in the broader public interest, including reflecting the majority position where appropriate.
“It is important to note that consultation is not a single event; it may occur at multiple stages of a project, from early idea
generation through to draft concepts and refined plans prior to adoption.
“Plans are often amended through this process in response to what we hear from the community. With respect to Grant Street, Alexandra, Council is currently progressing the Alexandra Town Centre Movement and Place Study and Streetscape Improvement Plan, which includes Grant Street and builds on initial consultation undertaken with the community in 2025. “No final designs or decisions have been made, and there are currently no approved plans for large scale redevelopment such as those suggested in recent commentary. “The project is being undertaken as a staged process, exploring a range of options to improve safety, accessibility and how the town centre functions over time. “Council will undertake further consultation shortly, providing residents, businesses and stakeholders with the opportunity to review emerging options and provide input before any decisions are finalised. “Feedback from this next phase will be used to refine and amend concepts, ensuring that the final outcome reflects community priorities overall, recognising that this may not align with every individual preference, but will be grounded in the majority view and the long-term interests of the town,” Ms Bonazzi said.