The community consultation period has been important in ensuring the Macleay is prepared for the historic moment when Kempsey is no longer a ‘highway town’.

Meetings were held with residents and business owners at South Kempsey, in the Kempsey Central Business District and at Frederickton in October-November last year.

Council’s bypass coordinator Bruce Potts said the masterplan program was now at the half way mark and due to enter the “business end” of the process.

“This is where we get down to business and much of that involves taking on board the comments and feedback we received from all those residents who shared their ideas with us,” Mr Potts said.

At a well-attended community meeting at Frederickton, residents spoke in support of retaining the village’s character by creating new streetscapes and entries.

“The feeling conveyed was one of strong community support to be involved in a hands-on manner to reclaim the heritage village character once the bypass comes into operation,” Mr Potts said.

“Concepts currently being developed are looking at new street tree-planting options and investigating strategies to involve the local community directly in the process of growing the trees and planting them.”

A second meeting in Kempsey focussed on the Smith St precinct, with discussions focussing on the issues of traffic and parking.

These issues are being assessed as part of a traffic study.

Residents at the South Kempsey meeting spoke about the importance of addressing social issues to help create a harmonious and welcoming entry corridor to the town.

Residents in all areas expressed concern that many of the core highway services, such as 24-hour food and fuel for long distance transports, would be lost.

A second round of community conversations will be held in March to talk in more detail about the concepts and ideas put forward during initial consultations.

The consultation process underpins the development of detailed plans and design work for the Kempsey CBD, South Kempsey and Frederickton, which are in progress.