Scone Bypass and CBD Revitalisation

30 September 2020

What’s happening on Kelly St?

The Scone bypass has presented challenges and opportunities to make Kelly St more accessible and attractive to locals and visitors.  The drainage, landscape and civil designs are underway.  
The biggest technical issues to be addressed first, have been planning the right road pavement design and improvements to drainage on Kelly St. Transport for NSW and Council are working together on both the design and then the construction phase. Data has been collected including utilities locations, with marked footways, survey, stormwater drainage inspections, and geotechnical assessment of road sub surface elements. The concept design of the concrete road remediation – black asphalt over the existing concrete -has been agreed following an options study and extensive discussions between Transport for NSW and Council on possible solutions. This creates a ‘base line’ for the rest of the design.
The latest draft designs for the streetscape are expected to be put on public exhibition for community feedback in early 2021. Council is working on the streetscape designs with the Scone Revitalisation Committee (which includes several community members – see below) and the Scone Chamber of Commerce. Mara Consulting Landscape Architects and local engineers RHM Civil Engineers are helping with the design.
Construction tenders are expected to open in the first half of 2021, with construction starting in mid 2021.
Cr James Burns, chair of the Scone Revitalisation Committee, said “Momentum in this project is building and funding opportunities are being sourced. It’s a big project, a great project, a project worthy of the Upper Hunter. Given the increase in enquiries and sales on residential, rural, commercial and industrial property, we are poised to have an influx of business and people for our retail sector. Kelly St will be the place to be!”
Transport for NSW is currently the road authority and responsible for Kelly St. Discussions are currently underway to review the road classification to make Kelly St a local or regional council road. The revitalisation project is able to continue before that happens.
Council has committed $1M in funding and the NSW Government has committed $10M for the revitalisation works. Transport NSW are funding the road improvements.
Further information about the Scone CBD project is available on Council’s website
https://upperhunter.nsw.gov.au/your-council/media/scone-cbd-revitalisation.aspx

Want to get involved?

There is currently a community representative vacancy on the Scone Revitalisation Committee which provides provide advice and recommendations to Council on the redevelopment and implementation of the plans to upgrade Scone CBD and surrounds. If you are interested contact Council or download the NOMINATION FORM.

New toilets and laneway for Kelly St

In 2017 Council purchased 133 Kelly St, Scone (the former Sports Store) and restoration and rebuilding work will start in early 2021 to create accessible toilets and new covered access to Farram’s Lane, providing more parking close to the CBD.
The building was in poor structural condition including extensive termite damage. With design plans complete, the Development Application (DA) is underway and heritage issues have been resolved.
Heritage items will be protected and interpreted during construction and in the use of the new structure, including the Kelly St façade and awning, and a mural on the southern wall.
Construction is expected to start in 2021.
The new toilets will be signposted as accessible off Kelly Street or from Farram’s lane and there will be landscaping at both entrances.

February 2020

Town Revitalisation

Planning is underway for the revitalisation designs however construction cannot start until the Kelly St road surface is fixed, including drainage issues. Whatever treatment is undertaken could change the width and height of the road.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) [formerly Roads and Maritime Services (RMS)], and Council have been negotiating what needs to be fixed on Kelly St, what treatment is needed for the road surface and what financial assistance will be available to Council. The existing concrete pavement was poured in 1984 and requires significant repairs.  Council and TfNSW are investigating other options for overlays, making sure kerbs and road pavement levels are correct to eliminate flooding problems. TfNSW will be assisting in the upgrade costs of the pavement.

Geotechnical investigations have been completed  (the white circles on the road are testing of the pavement).Eventually Kelly St will be reclassified as a local road (or possibly regional road). The  responsibility for maintaining local and regional roads is currently with  Council. With other bypasses it has taken on average between 12 to 24 months after the bypass is completed, for the road to be reclassified. Council will then be able to start the revitalisation construction work – the design of which is 70% complete.

Council has committed $1m in funding and the NSW Government has committed $10m.   

March 2020

Progress by the Scone CBD Revitalisation Committee

Chair of the Scone CBD Revitalisation Committee Cr James Burns acknowledged the work of the committee and the contribution of the Scone Chamber of Commerce.  The committee provides advice and recommendations to Council. There are sub-committees for:

•    Horse Walk of Fame Sub-committee.  Bill Howey who was at the meeting and three other pedigreed horse people make up the sub-committee.

•    Horticulture Sub-committee Pru Robertson who was at the meeting and two other plant experts make up the sub-committee. They have also guided the RMS bypass replanting plans.

The Scone Town Centre Masterplan was completed in 2016 (there are also Masterplans and committees for Aberdeen, Merriwa and Murrurundi). In 2017 the branding design was adopted. The Scone branding uses retro / art deco images. The same typeface is used for all four towns’ branding.

Committee members have visited other towns that have had bypasses, to look at street furniture, garden beds, signage etc, to find what has and hasn’t worked, and to gather ideas.

The committee has worked with MARA Consulting Landscape Designers who prepared a landscaping design for Kelly St which is 70% complete, but will have some changes dependant on the geo-technical work and final road surface treatment eg height and width. The design includes lots of green spaces, particularly on the east side of the street.

There is more work to be done on lighting / CCTV / Public Art etc. Any needed water infrastructure upgrades will be completed.

The Design will go out for community consultation and everyone is encouraged to have their say when the next design plans are released.

The public is welcome to attend the monthly committee meetings.

Report from Meeting 21 January 2020

Over 60 people attended the 21 January 2020 public meeting about the Bypass and Scone Revitalisation, organised by the Scone Chamber of Commerce and Upper Hunter Shire Council.

If you missed out please read the report below.

There were presentations from Tony Gant from Transport NSW, Manager Business Enterprise and Tourism David Gatwood, Chair of the Scone Revitalisation Committee Cr James Burns, and Special Projects Manager Alan Fletcher.

The meeting was emceed by Steve Guihot President of the Scone Chamber of Commerce.

“The bypass is imminent and there is a possible gap of one year between the bypass and the revitalisation construction starting on Kelly St. And we don’t have enough funds.

“So we need ideas  - ideas to get people into Scone in the meantime, activities and attractions that will build business and keep jobs in town – art, theatre, a carnival atmosphere, a Reclaim Kelly St Party, a long lunch on Kelly St….

“Please contact the Scone Chamber if you would like to be part of this.”

www.sconechamber.com.au

SCONE BYPASS - NOW COMPLETE

•    Final finishing work on the bypass is underway – laying ashphalt, safety barriers, signs, landscaping and revegetation.

•    In January, night work is being undertaken.

•    It is expected to be opened by Easter (weather permitting) but this is not the end of the work. There will be work to complete after this date generally on the north and south interchanges.

•    There will a number of different signs on the bypass

o    Scone signs (pictured with Mare and Foal image) which will be 4.2m by 4.2m at the north and south approaches to Scone about 2.5km out 

o    Brown tourism signs eg Barrington Tops

o    Stop, Revive, Survive

o    Green directions to the bypass including distances for each route

o    Exit signs.

o    Blue signs indicating Scone exit at 3 locations.

Q: How will cattle trucks enter?

A: Coming from the south they will come via the bypass.

Q: Sound barriers are on the eastern side, will they be put on the western side?

A: The first 13 properties are starting to be sound-treated, based on modelling of sound impacts. After the bypass is open RMS come back and check the actual impacts of traffic, and there may be additional sound treatment work.

Bypass updates are available at www.rms.work/sconebypass . Hotline 1800 870 751

Scone Bypass and CBD Revitalisation Updates 2019

The next  community update on the Scone Bypass and town revitalisation plans will be 6.30pm Tuesday 21 January 2020, Council Chambers, Liverpool Street, Scone.

A report of this meeting will be available soon.

Bring your questions and ideas to have your say! Your input is welcome.

There is no need to RSVP– just come along to Upper Hunter Shire Council Chambers 135 Liverpool St.

Construction of the Scone bypass is a significant development for the Scone community.

This project is being undertaken by the NSW Government through Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), who have contracted Daracon to undertake construction.

More information about the project is available on their website:
RMS website
If you have further questions about the bypass project, contact Daracon's Community Liaison Representative by email  or phone 1800 870 751.

What does this mean for the Scone CBD?

The bypass presents both opportunities and challenges for Scone.

Upper Hunter Shire Council and the Scone Chamber of Commerce and Industry are holding events to keep people informed and give them an opportunity to ask questions about the bypass projects and hear what preparation is in place to take advantage of the changes this will mean for Kelly Street.

We are learning from the experiences of other regions that have had bypasses and will continue to seek this advice. The Councils we have contacted include Mid Coast (Nabiac, Taree Bulahdelah) Cessnock (Branxton) and Great Hume (Holbrook).

To find out about upcoming events view the Scone Chamber website or Council’s event calendar:
Scone Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc.
Event Calendar

Kelly Street Revitalisation

Council’s Scone Town Revitalisation Committee has been meeting regularly and will soon be releasing for community comment and feedback, draft plans for a major landscaping and beautification upgrade of Kelly Street.

The committee’s minutes can be viewed within the minutes of Council’s Ordinary General Meetings and Agendas
Council Meeting Minutes

There are a number of other projects including the Scone Golf Course upgrade, White Park undercover arena, and work at Bill Rose Sports Complex, where improved facilities will bring people into town. For more information on these projects search this website.