The community has the opportunity to give feedback on some of the design elements for the Urunga CBD upgrade, including parking, traffic direction and the overall design layout, through a feedback survey which will be open from 12-26 March 2026.
The Urunga CBD Upgrade aims to enhance the amenity of the town centre through improved streetscaping, accessibility and connectivity, as well as improving the connection between the main commercial hub and the foreshore.
The current designs are based on the Urunga CBD Master Plan, which was developed in 2024 following community surveys and workshops. The plan acts as a long-term vision and strategy for Urunga and will be developed in a staged approach over the next 20 years.
RPS AAP Consulting were awarded the tender for the project in January, selected for their extensive experience in urban design and delivering revitalisation projects for regional and coastal town centres. Their portfolio includes projects such as the Nanango Town Centre Revitalisation, Mollison Park in Queensland, West Village in Brisbane, Port Douglas Town Centre Revitalisation, and Fish Lane Town Square in South Brisbane.
RPS AAP Consulting have been working closely with Council to translate the vision of the Urunga CBD Master Plan into detailed designs. The upcoming community feedback round will provide an opportunity for the public to view and comment on the first stage of designs, which focus on the structural layout and functional elements of the Urunga CBD.
Bellingen Shire Council General Manager, Mark Griffioen, said that Council is working closely with the community to ensure that key stakeholders have a chance to engage closely with the design process.
“The Urunga CBD Community Reference Group was formed in September 2025, with representatives chosen based on their experience, ability to represent key community groups, commitment to act as community voices, and alignment with Council’s values,” said Mark Griffioen.
“In addition to the work of the Community Reference Group, who have been engaged via workshops and information sessions over the past six months, there are also regular email updates on the project’s progress, sent to a mailing list of interested people, as well as face to face conversations with businesses and organisations in the CBD.”
“This first round of feedback will be open to the public and will ask a series of structured questions about the physical aspects of the design, including asking respondents to rank their top three elements of the design.”
“It is our intention to keep the community informed and involved wherever possible in the design of this exciting and transformational project for Urunga.”
Interested community members will have another opportunity to provide feedback on the project with a second round of feedback in June, which will focus more on aesthetic aspects of the design.
For more information on the Urunga CBD upgrade project, including the designs, feedback survey, Community Reference group members and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our website: Urunga CBD Upgrade of Bellingen Shire