TIRED, dated and even ugly are how some councillors and residents have described Georgetown's main street, but Newcastle council plans on giving the business strip a well overdue makeover.
The council passed a motion at its ordinary meeting on Tuesday night confirming Georgetown Road and Waratah's Station Street will be the next areas upgraded as part of its local centres works program.
The projects will require community consultation and then concept and detailed planning, but news of the future streetscape works were welcomed by traders and residents on Wednesday.
"It needs a bit of a spruce up, I think Georgetown is pretty ugly to be honest," Diane Pirimona, a Georgetown resident of eight years, said.
"It needs a bit more life about it. I think they could do a lot more around here. Some trees would be nice."
Souhuy Tran, who runs Georgetown Cake Shop with partner Phealong Seur, was eager to hear more about the plans but said the area's demographics had changed in the past eight years they had been operating.
"It used to be a lot of the elderly but now it's sort of more young families or young people," she said.
"We are getting busier and busier as a little local suburb, so any upgrade is great.
"It just depends on how long things take and hamper businesses on the street. But I think change is good."
Paul, a manager at Georgetown's Vinny's Takeaway, added: "Whatever they do, it will make it prettier and better. Whether it's needed, who knows, but for the eyes it will be good."
Station Street at Waratah was not part of the original motion moved by Labor councillors on Tuesday but was included after an amendment put forward by Cr Andrea Rufo (IND).
"Although the Waratah Village shopping centre has well supported the growth of Waratah and neighbouring Georgetown, it has been at the expense of the nearby retail strips," he said. "There is new development taking place in both these suburbs ... [they are] surging in popularity. It is time for this work to be carried out."
Similar upgrades have been completed as part of the program in recent years at Beresfield, Carrington, Merewether, Stockton and Kotara. Further upgrades are in progress or planning at New Lambton and Wallsend.
Cr Peta Winney-Baartz (ALP) said the projects at Georgetown and Waratah would include a range of public domain improvements and potentially assistance for businesses to beautify their shopfronts.
"We regularly hear about how great this strip of shops at Georgetown [is], but at the same time we also hear about how they could get better if council took some time to address the tired and dated public domain," she said. "Infrastructure like footpaths, roads, street furniture, garden beds, street-tree selection and signage could be improved. There are also some pedestrian and cycling connectivity issues.
"Parking, of course, will always be at a premium at our popular local centres, so I really look forward to hearing the ideas of locals and local businesses about how we can maximise turnover."
Ms Tran said Georgetown Road had barely any street furniture.
"I'd love some more space for people to sit down, the nearest park is quite a bit of a walk away," she said.
"Some grassy areas, some seating - I think that would be great. Most of our business is takeaway ... we've improved our seating but if there is more nearby that would be fantastic."
