Newcastle Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal for a six-month trial to widen the Darby Street footpath for outdoor dining.
The plan would see a raised timber deck platform expanded across parking spaces along a stretch of popular cafes from Sanctum to Goldbergs.
16 parking spaces will be relocated to the Newcastle Art Gallery, and the speed limit will be dropped from 40 to 30kmh to accommodate the move.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen says it’s a great move, as the city recovers from the COVID pandemic.
“Lots of Novocastrians are starting to return, and hospitality is booming in the city once again,” Cr Clausen said.
“It’s great, particularly given that it was an industry that was so hard hit during the pandemic and literally tens of thousands of Novocastrians were working in the entertainment and hospitality industry.”
The trial is part of a Streets as Shared Spaces program, with $500,000 in funding from the State Government.
You can have your say on the project here.
Feedback closes on June 13.