The streetscape of Omeo town centre lacks any discernible sense of place with a mix match of various components and aging infrastructure, lack of street tree planting and urban amenity. The project will deliver increased small-scale infrastructure elements that will increase community usage and activity of the shopping commercial strip whilst providing added amenity to accommodate the increased tourism to the town being generated by the Omeo MTB Destination project. The streetscape will enable new infrastructure which will enhance the functionality of the main street and improving public spaces to bring more people to local businesses, and encouraging visitors and travelers to ‘stop, stay and spend’.

Design Scope

The concept aims to identify a number of modest and affordable interventions which will enhance the amenity and visual character of central Omeo. The concept is limited to Day Avenue and focusses on the footpath space. It does not deal with structural elements of the road such as carriageway width, broad kerb alignments or drainage.

The concept recognises that Omeo sits within a landscape that is dominated by the natural topography of the High Country, and so views are kept open to the surrounding hills and the Tambo River valley. It also recognises that the town has a long history and that elements of that history can still be seen – and so views to old buildings, particularly in the central Justice precinct, are also kept open. Finally, the concept recognises that Omeo is a living town that residents and visitors walk around and meet in, and where community events occur.

In response, the concept includes the following features: Enhancement of the central town area focused on the civic park and RSL garden through new tree planting, additional seating, improved access to open space and simple treatment of the existing footpath pavement.

• Provision of new feature planting areas, primarily at street corners, with trees and low-level planting, low stone edge walls and seating;
• Provision of additional pram crossing to facilitate the crossing of Day Avenue for those with limited mobility;
• Removal of the narrow nature strip along the primary school frontage, and replacement with new pavement and street trees to provide improved amenity and access for parents and students;
• Replacement of old and damaged footpath pavement, particularly east of Short Street, and replacement with new pavement;
• Installation of evergreen trees to provide “greening” during winter when the majority of existing trees are leaf-less;
• Investigation into the provision of low-level planting and trees in the large open car park west of Tongio Street / Creek Street to provide improved visual amenity and prominence, while maintain vehicle movements and views;
• Retention of all kerbside parking;
• Upgrade of the public toilet / picnic area at the corner of Day Avenue and Tongio Street, with improved landscape and seating opportunities.

Community Consultation

A successful onsite community consultation session was held in Omeo to gather community feedback on this project. Concept Plan Community feedback is attached under Documents for your information. The feedback was presented to the Project Reference Group and elements have been incorporated within final concept plan (attached Documents).

Funding for this project has been provided by Living Local Regional Fund and further support from Council.