A two-year project to improve flooding issues in Cooks Hill and beautify Darby Street is now complete and open to the public.
The $6 million City of Newcastle project involved major work to replace old underground drainage that was plagued by tree roots with a new stormwater drain, almost three-metres wide.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said while addressing flooding issues, council decided to use the opportunity to make improvements to the streetscape and surrounds.
The troublesome trees were replaced by 8,000 new street plants and 18 new trees. Seven additional parking spaces have also been installed along with public art including an interactive mural by local artist Trevor Dickinson.
The roadblock on Council Street has been removed, meaning traffic can travel from Darby Street through to Dawson Street and the space was also designed to improve pedestrian and cycleway access.
Cr Nelmes said the aim of the project was to create an inviting space in a popular area of the city.
"Iconic dining strips like here and Beaumont Street are crucial to the identity of Newcastle," Cr Nelmes said.
"This is really where we saw the mainstream burgeoning of café culture a couple of decades ago. We're continually renewing the public assets to make sure it's inviting for custom and supports our local businesses, but also supports what is a really iconic place in Newcastle."
The project involved traffic disruptions along the busy street over the two years, but Cr Nelmes said the drainage construction was accelerated during the COVID-19 lockdown last year, when traffic was quieter and local businesses were restricted.
Three Monkeys Cafe owner Anthony Strachan said he was really pleased with the new space.
"It was a bit of a hard slog for a year and a half, but now that its' done, like anything we'll progress," he said.
"Darby Street's just getting better and better all the time and the better it looks the more people who are going to come."
He also welcomed the increase in parking.
"As any business owner will tell you, the more car parks, the better."
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