As the second community consultation period for the Draft Berwick Village Plan approaches, the City of Casey’s mayor, Stefan Koomen, remains eager to see it all come together.
Scheduled for Wednesday, 9 July, Koomen said that he’s aiming to attend the pop-up on Berwick High Street from 12pm to 2pm, seeing that he missed the previous one on 28 June.
Speaking broadly, Koomen said that the draft plan is “fantastic”.
“Berwick is a unique place, it’s one of the most beautiful areas within our municipality, and it’s got a lot of history.
“It’s about having a plan, but it’s also making sure that we maintain and retain those important elements that make it so beautiful,” he said.
The new structure plan was passed almost two months ago during the May council meeting, effectively replacing the previous one that was prepared in 2011.
The current plan features a total of seven key directions that highlight the preservation of the village’s historical charm while allowing for the growth of local businesses and homes.
This includes a lengthy timeline that begins with the second phase of consultation, the current stage, which is set to be finalised towards the end of the year.
These key directions also include improvements to movement and safety, supporting diverse housing options, elevating design and sense of place, promoting community facilities, and delivering a greener and more climate-resilient centre.
Another change in the current plan is the boundary, where the previous structure plan featured an area below the Pakenham train line, but is now more centralised on High Street and surrounding areas.
Koomen, reflecting on this change, said that “it’s what people really associate with central Berwick and that village feel”.
“We need to make sure we listen to residents, businesses, and all those people who use Berwick so we get the right balance about improving it, but not losing that feel and village vibe that is so loved by the residents,” he said.
Despite missing out on the initial pop-up at Pioneer Park, Koomen said that he heard some constructive and positive views were put forward by the residents during the timeframe.
When asked what he personally would like to see in the area, he said that Berwick Village is “already really fantastic”.
“But it’s about making it more user-friendly, accessible, and building on the fantastic set of businesses that we’ve got.
“I’m looking forward to hearing all the feedback, getting the residents’ views, and then we can lock this plan in and get going with improving our community,” he said.
