Charnwood shops safety improvements

Project description

Construction is underway on Charnwood shops safety improvements.

Charnwood shops is a thriving group centre in Belconnen providing access for locals and visitors to a range of retail businesses and essential services. Upgrades began in 2023 to provide a long term solution to concerns about lifted paving due to tree roots.

Key features

• Repaving areas of concern with a combination of existing and new pavers particularly in front of shopfronts on the northern, southern and western edges facing the front carpark.
• Minimising the future possibility of lifted pavers by using root pave tree surrounds which are rubber and allow for the growth of tree roots without cracking the surface.
• Installation of new seating and furniture in locations which do not impede pedestrian movements.
• Increasing soft landscape in areas pedestrians do not use to reduce the heat island effect.
• Planting of 12 new trees: 7 Large leaved maples (Acer Autumn Blaze), 4 Zelkova Serrata and one Eucalyptus Mannidera as well as new garden beds.
• Drainage improvements to address localised flooding during periods of heavy rain on the lower level pavement at the bottom of the steps near the laundromat and replacement of some stormwater infrastructure.
• Increased shade to seating areas with a new shade sail in front of Woolworths.
• Artwork which depicts local mammal species with cutouts for children to use as masks.
• Improved pedestrian access with new concrete steps and kerb ramps.

Improvements to parking

• Formalising the one-way traffic flow through the carpark.
• Replacement of existing signage where required.
• Adjustments to existing accessible parking bays (bottom left corner) and new kerb ramp.
• Four new accessible parking bays in the rear/western carpark.

Construction

Works still to be completed include the root pave tree surrounds on trees in front of Woolworths (this will be done once the ground has compacted around the trees), installation of some of the seating and a mural on the wall facing the waste bin area to the northern side of the shops. These works are expected to be completed by the middle of this year.