A $2 million upgrade for Balclutha's main street area has been suggested - but the Clutha District Council plans to spend the next two years talking to the community about the proposal.
New footpaths and a modernised streetscape are some of the ideas being considered in the draft long-term council community plan but the council admits it is still some time off from confirming any details.
It suggests the improvements could be like those recently introduced in central Tapanui, although the work in Balclutha would have its own theme including footpath paving, bulbous kerbing, new rubbish bins, tables, chairs and more plantings.
The upgrade would run through about 2.2km of Clyde St from the Balclutha bridge to the intersections of Gordon and Clyde Sts, which is regarded as the central business area of the town.
"This project is still at the ideas stage . . . details about what should actually be done and where would need to be confirmed through consultation during 2009-10 and 2010-11," the draft document says.
If the project continued past that phase, construction might start in the 2012-13 year.
"This would also provide a window of opportunity to fully consider the future of Balclutha's heavy traffic bypasses which might impact on the focus of the CBD into the future."
The council is suggesting Balclutha ward ratepayers pay 80% of the cost with the balance coming from the rest of the district.
Balclutha ratepayers would have an extra $28.30 added to their rates bill while the rest of the district would incur an extra $4.30 tacked to the uniform annual general charge component of their rates bill.
