A six-month trial to enhance the outdoor dining experience along the popular eat street, Darby Street, will soon commence encouraging people to visit, stay and connect.
City of Newcastle will start the six-month trial in spring, making the footpath wider between Sanctum and Goldbergs’ restaurants.
During the trial period, a removable platform will be installed over seven existing car parking spaces to increase space for outdoor dining.
The temporary loss of car parking spaces will be offset by the conversion of sixteen existing paid all-day parking behind the Newcastle Art Gallery into free, two-hour parking spaces.
The project will bring new life to the Darby Headphones Courtyard with new street seating, paving, lighting and public art.
It will also include the installation of vibrant murals on both the walls and footpaths, celebrating local and upcoming artists in collaboration with local art festivals.
A new pedestrian crossing leading to the courtyard will improve accessibility and safety.
A convenient drop-off /pick-up zone near the shops and eateries will also form part of the trial.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen, said converting improvements and beautification of the popular eat-street would benefit the community.
“Investment in our local centres helps restore confidence, create local jobs and boost our twilight and after dark economy, which employed 12,000 Novocastrians and created $1.4 billion per year in economic activity prior to COVID,” Cr Clausen said.
“Outdoor dining is more popular than ever, and this project is perfectly timed for long spring meals at Darby Street’s quirky cafes, small bars and restaurants.
“Trialling traffic calming infrastructure will make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and help create an environment where dining spaces for local cafes and restaurants can be extended.”
The trial has been made possible with funding from the City of Newcastle Urban Centres Revitalisation Program and a $500,000 grant from the NSW Government through the Streets as Shared Spaces program.
City of Newcastle is gathering feedback on the proposed trial, with community consultation now open.