Bridport’s Main Street has carbon miles lessons to pass on

By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie

Beautiful white sandy beaches and two stunning coastal reserves - the Granite Point Coastal Reserve and the Bridport Wildflower Reserve - make this former timber port both a desirable place to live and a popular holiday destination. There’s no question that the creation several years ago of the nearby Barnbougle Dunes links golf course – now ranked as Australia’s premier public golf course, and number 35 on the world stage – has further enhanced the town’s appeal.
Bridport businesses and community – quite rightly – see the popularity and success of Barnbougle Dunes as something they should be able to plug into. However, the slightly tired and dated streetscape was overdue for a cutting-edge design makeover, to encourage visitors destined for the prestigious course to linger.
25 year plan
The Main Street redevelopment project is one facet of a long-term plan for the town produced by the Dorset Council in 2006: the Bridport Future Planning and Development Strategy. “It wasn't developed as a quick-fix solution,” stresses Dorset Council, sustainable development manager Ally Mercer. “Instead, it provides a 25-year planning and economic framework to address current and future environmental, social and economic needs. It also defines a vision to enable Bridport to achieve its full potential.”
The strategy was formulated only after an extensive public consultation process, for residents are understandably highly protective of their patch of paradise. The overall design, delivered by Pitt and Sherry and based on water-sensitive urban design, took momentum through the community identifying a vision for Bridport as a distinctive coastal town where:
•    Unique environment and landscape values are celebrated;
•    Natural resource endowments yield optimum economic tourism and community benefits;
•    The needs of a diverse population are met;
•    Community values are recognised to preserve lifestyle and cultural wellbeing;
•    Building forms and public spaces contribute to the town’s character; and
•    Recreational and cultural activities are available for all.
The community was very clear that the urbanisation design needed to take into account the breathtaking coastline theme and natural setting.
“Through the processes of consultation and analysis, council received expert advice on every aspect of the project,” says Mercer. “A number of changes were made as a result of public consultation and input.”
Infrastructure provision
Eight key areas that address specific aims, opportunities and actions were identified in the Strategy. One of these includes infrastructure provision, especially to improve traffic management within and to Bridport, increase safety and accessibility, and enhance seaside ambience for local businesses.
Venarchie Contracting Pty Ltd was awarded the $850,000 contract for the first stage of the redevelopment designed to achieve this. Work started on 1 September under the direction of Dorset Council’s works manager Wayne Williams, and is scheduled to finish on 18 December in time for the peak summer-holiday season. Local landscape architects, Kirby Brown, were employed to bring the urban design concept to reality, building on the natural landscape and environment.
Construction on the western – business – side of the street includes storm-water drainage work; new kerbing; new paved driving crossovers; and a new pedestrian area, including new business entranceways, paving, and an extended walkway area. Similar works will be conducted on the eastern – Village Green – side. Roundabouts will be built at either end of the road, with an initial sandbag trial for passenger and commercial vehicles to assess the impact.
Pedestrian priority
The changes mean less parking generally along Main Street, and in particular the end of angle parking. Mercer says the majority of comments received by Council, in recent times, relate to the elimination of angle parking. However, the removal of planter boxes from the street will allow for some parallel parking on the northern side, while additional off-road parking is to be provided.
The redevelopment improves connections between the shopping precinct and the beachfront, while urbanisation of the streetscape will encourage walking and cycling, and reduce the impact of cars. Design improvements such as paving, traffic calming, significantly wider footpaths (5m), upgrading of furniture, increased tree planting, and streetscape greening, will promote pedestrian priority and improve accessibility and mobility along Main Street for all users, including older people, people with disabilities, people on scooters and wheelchairs and people with prams.
Minimising carbon miles
The aim throughout the project was to minimise carbon miles. This started by using a local civil contractor, designer and landscape architect, as well as local tradesmen for paving, electrical, and labour work. Street furniture was hand made by craftsmen at Allied Welding, an hour’s drive from the project. Pavers made from Island Block and Paving and Tasmanian granite from Dunn Stone Industries, are being used in addition to concrete pavers.
With the road works, old kerbing and the like was crushed and the materials recycled into the new plan, meaning only minimal waste went to land fill. The items that travelled the furthest were the street trees, and they underwent a three-hour trip.
Mercer says it’s clear from community feedback that residents are in favour of the overall concept of the urbanisation and upgrading of the area. This is evidenced by the fact that CWA members are keeping the workers well fed with home-baked treats!