Opinion: If we’re doing Yambil Street, let’s do it right

We’re yet to see concrete details regarding design, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for business owners and regular users of the area to chip in with their beatification ideas.

We’re constantly spruiking our multiculturalism, heritage and affiliation with the land, so it makes sense to have those unique connections displayed loud and proud on our streets.

If we are as proud as we say we are, perhaps we can take inspiration from the best, and incorporate some of the world’s most famous streets defining features.

Inspiration can come from the wall of lights on Broadway, the cafe style and tree-lined avenue of the Champs Élysée, or even the high-density night-time public mall of Bourbon Street?

The sky’s the limit.

Actually, $8 million is the limit, for the entire CBD upgrade.

Work on the long-awaited Yambil Street upgrade begins in May, 2018.

We’re yet to see concrete details regarding design, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for business owners and regular users of the area to chip in with their beatification ideas.

We’re constantly spruiking our multiculturalism, heritage and affiliation with the land, so it makes sense to have those unique connections displayed loud and proud on our streets.

If we are as proud as we say we are, perhaps we can take inspiration from the best, and incorporate some of the world’s most famous streets defining features.

Inspiration can come from the wall of lights on Broadway, the cafe style and tree-lined avenue of the Champs Élysée, or even the high-density night-time public mall of Bourbon Street?

The sky’s the limit.

Actually, $8 million is the limit, for the entire CBD upgrade.

So a homage to the Vegas Strip is probably out of the question. 

But there's plenty we can still consider while we’ve got a clean slate, and presuming of course much of the over half-century-old infrastructure and beautification will be replaced.

Yambil Street can become Griffith’s second hub for shopping, socialising, and cafe culture.

It’s an opportunity to produce a landmark synonymous with Griffith, its people and its culture.

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If done right, our city could have its very own Oxford Street or Lygon Street.

A true physical icon to compliment the Fairey Firefly Monument.

A street scape immediately popping into the minds of anyone who knows anything about Griffith. 

So why not contact council and share your vision of a rejuvenated and eye-catching Yambil Street we can all be proud of?

Maybe an idea or design of such high quality may be enough to prompt private investment, or outside funding.

You may be the brainchild of a new and exciting theme giving Griffith’s CBD a unique and eye-catching motif usually only found in the world’s most famous cities.

Past experience with Griffith infrastructure projects suggests the CBD upgrades will be designed for a multi-generational lifespan.

So let’s make sure we do it right!