Vibrant Streets Package

The Vibrant Streets Package (the Package) is a $15 million investment to inject vibrancy into our streets and create thriving local spaces that support businesses, creative sectors, and the community, now and into the future.

Naughtons Gap Road, spanning from Rambaldinis Road to 720 Naughtons Gap Road, has been temporarily closed on Monday, January 15, due to the recent inclement weather rendering the road surface slippery and hazardous for both cars and trucks. The closure aims to ensure the safety of all road users in light of the challenging conditions caused by wet weather.

Local residents have been duly informed about the temporary closure, with the expectation that the road will be accessible once again by 4 pm on Tuesday, January 16.

The road’s repair has been a prolonged endeavour, with a particular section affected by a landslip since 2020 (not the segment closed on the current date). Richmond Valley Council had intended to address the landslip, but the plans were thwarted by the extensive flooding in March 2022. Securing funding has posed a significant challenge for the council throughout the process.

Despite these obstacles, the council anticipates completing the necessary repairs to Naughtons Gap Road by the end of this year, providing a safer and more reliable route for the community.

Under the Package, councils across NSW will have the opportunity to temporarily close streets to cars for community activities, and trial place management strategies that aim to reduce the cost and complexity of delivering events on streets.

The Vibrant Streets Package will be delivered through two programs:

• Open Streets – A grant program for NSW councils to temporarily close streets and bring them to life for a day, or series of days, with community events and activations.

The program aims to transform our streets into vibrant, walkable public spaces for people to enjoy and safely access. Applications will open in January 2024.

• Permit/Plug/Play

Pilot – A program partnering with pilot councils to help reduce the cost and complexity of delivering street-based events through an innovative “local problems, local solutions” model to allow for global pre-approvals for streets as event sites.

The Package builds on significant and continued investment into our public spaces in transport hub precincts, including our streets, roads and laneways, that play a critical role in supporting local businesses, community connection and physical and mental well-being.