Part of Springwood’s main street is likely to be transformed with a new look outdoor dining space and seating.
The plan is part of an NSW Government grant – a $400,000 shot in the arm for the Mountains.
Through the program, Blue Mountains City Council will create green space connections, a trial parklet program, and deliver events to support a vibrant local economy.
The trial parklet is proposed to be a pop-up outdoor dining and seating space outside Macquarie Road's Townhouse Plaza. The aim is to inject new life into the street by giving residents and visitors space to sit outdoors, repurposing two car spaces with greenery and seating.
Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle said an earlier iteration of this model had already proven successful on Newcastle’s Darby Street where the trial shared space has become a permanent and very popular feature.
The funding has been provided under round two of the Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) pilot program. Under the Community Improvement Districts Act 2025, CIDs can raise levies without pursuing the more complex alternative of striking special rates under the Local Government Act 1993.
The current grants are being announced in tandem with legislation to make it faster and easier for local business to establish CIDs, which passed NSW Parliament in May. Individual businesses in a designated area vote in a ballot to establish a CID, with a two-thirds majority needed.
The CIDs model has fostered business precincts overseas for 50 years, with one example being the Times Square Alliance in New York that is made up of 2500 local businesses that have got together to improve street amenity and coordinate activations.
Businesses generate four times more revenue in a street with an operating CID model, research has found, with businesses banding together to improve amenities like seating, lighting, street art and signage, or create unique place identities through marketing and communication.
The first round of pilot CID funding supported 10 communities with all monitored CID pilots reporting an increased average daily spend in the 12 months to February 2025 with St Marys up $687,000; Murwillumbah up $529,000 and Randwick up $312,000.
Ms Doyle said: “It is about revitalising the main street and attracting more people to the town centre”.
“Access to green spaces along the main shopping strip is an important part of bringing our high street back to life.”
“The Minns Labor Government has established a permanent framework to allow local businesses to work together to improve their infrastructure and offerings and I’m excited to see this collaboration.It’s early days, but this is a ground up approach and will be something unique to Springwood.”
One of the CIDs already supported by the state government has been the Inner West Ale Trail. Ms Doyle said this has brought together 17 independent breweries across six suburbs - Marrickville, Newtown, St Peters, Camperdown, Enmore and Rozelle – to promote the indie beer boom.
Springwood cafe owner, Cassiopeia’s Zac Suito, said the trial plan to add more seating near his café was “awesome”.
“I hope it becomes permanent,” he added.
Minister for Transport, Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham said:
“This puts local businesses in the box seat to drive the change they want to see in their community. Local businesses know what their communities need to thrive. This legislation and funding will enable them to coordinate and raise money to make the enhancements their main streets and town centres need.
“This is about supporting a range of unique precincts to thrive.”
CAPTION The state government has given $400,000 in funding to Blue Mountains Council to support street activations, like a pop-up outdoor dining space outside Macquarie Road’s Townhouse Plaza. Pictured are Blue Mountains Computers Hess Hami, Trish Doyle MP with Cassiopeia’s Zac Suito and on Friday May 23.
MEDIA: Tom Tilley | Minister Graham | 0422 247 201
MEDIA: Brenda Cunningham-Lewis | Trish Doyle (02) 4751 3298
