Talking Street trial project, Mullumbimby
The Talking Street Trial project allows us to test new ideas to turn Burringbar Street and the Mullumbimby town centre into a more attractive, safe and people-friendly public space.
Arakwal artists, led by Nickolla Clark, is in the process of painting the pavement at the four corners of the Stuart Street/Burringbar Street intersection.
The artworks depict symbolism of sacred and significant areas of Country, like Gabanbaa - thick forest and coastal middens. They will highlight the importance these places hold, as they are now under threat. Arakwal Elders fought hard to preserve and protect all of Country, so bringing these designs through in our artwork holds a lot of cultural integrity and expression, alongside respect for the work they taught and upheld on Country.
The following have been installed as part of the trial:
- New Arakwal artworks at the Burringbar Street and Stuart Street intersection - underway.
- Wheel stops (short concrete barriers) in parking spaces along Burringbar Street for greater pedestrian safety.
- Eight new sandstone seats on Burringbar Street.
- A new pedestrian crossing near the Commonwealth Bank on Burringbar Street.
- Narrowing of the road at the Burringbar and Stuart Street intersection, marked with temporary line-marking and bollards.
- New signs reducing the speed from 50km/h to 30km/hr.
- Two temporary parklets with new artwork thanks to Shearwater Steiner School students. These were removed from the trial on 23 September due to anti-social behaviour.
We asked locals - those who work, study or visit Mullumbimby regularly - to give us your feedback about what aspects of the trial you like or dislike.
This survey has now closed. Thank you for your feedback. We are reviewing submissions and will report the outcome of the survey to Council in early 2022.
We will add a new survey and invite the community to provide feedback on the new Arakwal pavement artwork and other installations once they're completed.
Your feedback will inform our findings on the trial and help us budget and apply for grants to make changes permanent.
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What changes are happening as part of the trial?
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The following things have been installed and are being tested as part of the trial:
Pedestrian crossing
A new pedestrian crossing located near the Commonwealth Bank on Burringbar Street is designed to make it safer and easier for people to cross the road.
We will measure how it is used at key points during the trial. We’re also interested in whether it provides a safer link for people going to work, to school or to shops and services.
Narrowing of the road
Narrowing of the road at the Burringbar and Stuart Street intersection aims to make the traffic move more slowly. It creates the feeling of ‘closeness’, and by helping traffic to slow down, it creates more of a shared space where people, bikes and vehicles move around safely.
This is currently marked with temporary line-marking and white bollards. If made permanent, the white bollards will be completely removed and the road and kerb would most likely be built-up and extended with hard and soft landscaping. The community has added a creative touch to the white bollards with colorful knitting!
New Arakwal pavement artwork
Local Arakwal artists, Nickolla and Kaitlyn Clark, have started work on four pavement artworks being created near the intersection of Burringbar Street and Stuart Street. The artworks depict symbolism of sacred and significant areas of Country, like Gabanbaa - thick forest and coastal middens. They will highlight the importance these places hold, as they are now under threat.
New signage
New signage reduces the speed in the town centre from 50km/h to 30km/hr.
This aims to create a safe shared-space for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. It will also help people move easily from one side of the street to the other.
Parklets
Two temporary parklets were installed, with new artwork, thanks to Shearwater Steiner School students. The two parklets were installed in March 2021 at the taxi rank and bus stop in Stuart Street, near the Burringbar Street intersection.
Unfortunately the parklets were removed from the trial due to anti-social behaviour.
