Plans to revamp Maitland Mall on public display

Maitland Council says concept plans for the city's mall aim to bring people back into the city centre by creating a modern cafe and restaurant precinct.

The designs centre around a shared path with vehicular traffic returning to the mall.

There is parking and dinning on the northern side and trees, planter boxes and public seating on the south.

The plans also provide three options to better connect the mall with the Hunter River.

Council General Manager David Evans says options include a constructed pathway with rooftop cafe and a wharf with a permanent floating restaurant.

"In some respects it could become something of an icon within the city centre of High Street should we go ahead with that," he said.

"I need to stress that these are long term concepts.

"Our focus certainly at this point is to look at the solutions for the Mall itself but certainly there's a lot of interest in terms of that suggested connection between High Street and the river."

Mr Evans says the plans have been developed over the past 12 months after consultation with local businesses and the community.

"We're trying to create an urban environment that encourages people to come into the city centre and certainly a very big part of that is the food and coffee experience," he said.

"We'd really like to grow that as a corner stone of the city centre and we've got a great opportunity to do that in terms of tying all of that into the river and the ambience that provide."

The concept plans are public display until October 26.

The plans include an option to built pathway linking Maitland Mall with the Hunter River.(Supplied by Maitland City)

PHOTO: The concept design aims to create a cafe and restaurant precinct. (Suppled by Maitland City Council)

PHOTO: The concept plans are on public exhibition until October 26. (Supplied by Maitland Council)

Source: ABC News, 10 October 2012