MIDCOAST Council and local businesses continue to work on initiatives to add to the vibrancy of its main streets and town centres, including a rollout of new banners unifying main streets across the region and introduction of new street furniture along with more businesses signing up to the Vibrant Spaces Program.

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Forster, Harrington, Old Bar, Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens’ cohesive banner will include a beaches and lakes aesthetic.

Robyn Brennan, Council’s Coordinator, said, “Vibrant Spaces is about reviving the main street as a traditional meeting place of community, with the creation of spaces that are simply more attractive to linger and chat, chill out, share meals or shop.”

“It’s free for businesses to join the Vibrant Spaces program and businesses, working together with their communities, can achieve great things.”

Other areas with strong participation in the initiative include Forster, Gloucester, Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, Wingham, Nabiac, Stroud, Bulahdelah, Blueys Beach/Boomerang Beach, Harrington and Diamond Beach.

“The Vibrant Spaces concept embraces community ownership of the street,” continued Ms Brennan.

Lacey Dawes, owner of Café On Main with her husband Rhys Dawes, have owned their café in Bulahdelah for the past year, taking over from Lacey’s parents who ran the business for the past 13 years.

“It was my parents who worked with the Vibrant Spaces initiative to get our front area as amazing as it is today,” she said.

“We were grateful to have a department on Council that was available to help small businesses grow and allow us to expand.”

“Not only has Vibrant Spaces allowed us to advertise our brand more and seat more people, it’s also inviting and adds to the main street’s atmosphere.”

The banners were provided thanks to funding from the NSW State Government as part of the Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery fund.

By Ashley CHRYSLER