Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie has called on businesses to collectively freshen up the region’s streetscapes with a little help from a new Council scheme.
Southern Downs Regional Council has established a Heritage Streetscape Loan Scheme whereby a one per cent interest loan of up to $5000 is available to building owners to assist them with freshening up their building’s facade. Council resolved to adopt the new Heritage Streetscape Loan Scheme at its June General Meeting on Wednesday 27 June.
From Stanthorpe and Warwick, Killarney and Yangan to Allora and Leyburn, commercial streetscapes across the region have a distinct character and there are a number of unique heritage buildings and shopfronts in the centre of the region’s towns and villages. Cr Dobie said the scheme is an opportunity for commercial property owners to contribute to enhancing the visual characteristic of the region’s main streets. “Council is committed to ensuring our towns and villages retain a high level of appeal to our locals but also to visitors and tourists,” Cr Dobie said. “We have charming streetscapes across the Southern Downs and some lovely heritage buildings and we should celebrate our region’s unique character and work together to promote economic activity. The scheme is an opportunity for building owners to celebrate our region and to enhance their individual shop fronts and facades while proudly adding to the street’s visual identity. It could be as simple as a fresh coat of paint, undertaking repairs or replacing out-of-date signage, but I encourage all property owners to upgrade or maintain their buildings by taking advantage of the scheme.”
Cr Dobie said if the scheme is popular Council would consider extending the scope of the scheme to include additional streetscapes and businesses. “It’s about the way our region looks, if we want to look prosperous and successful we need to take pride in how our region looks; that’s the thinking behind the scheme and certainly we will consider extending the scheme to include more businesses if they express interest in taking part.”
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