Reimagining The Heart Of Werribee

A pedestrian-only section of Watton Street could dramatically change the heart of Werribee’s city centre.

Closing the section between Wedge Street and Bridge Street to vehicles would create a large pedestrian precinct through the middle of Werribee’s main shopping and dining strip, with potential space for outdoor dining, events, seating and community activities.

There is no current proposal before Wyndham Council to close the road, but pedestrian precincts have become a feature of activity centres elsewhere in Melbourne and around the world.

One local example is the Point Cook Pop Up Park on Murnong Street, which has turned former road space into an area for seating, events and community gatherings in the town centre.

(Wedge and Watton street intersection.)

Inspiration Can Be Found Locally

The park was first trialled in 2018 and has since become an established part of the Point Cook Town Centre.

Other examples can be found across Melbourne’s west.

Yarraville has converted road space into pedestrian areas, while Altona’s Pier Street precinct has placed a greater emphasis on pedestrians, outdoor dining and public space.

Any similar change to Watton Street would come with significant challenges.

Werribee’s city centre already experiences congestion, and removing a central section of Watton Street from the road network would require traffic to be redirected through surrounding streets.

(Bridge and Watton streets intersection.)

Would Involve Big Changes 

Any closure would need to consider how vehicles enter, leave and move around the city centre, as well as access to existing parking, deliveries, emergency services and businesses.

Traffic already moves slowly along parts of Watton Street, however, and removing vehicles could allow the centre of the strip to serve a different purpose.

More space could be provided for shoppers, diners and pedestrians, while businesses could potentially benefit from increased foot traffic and additional outdoor areas.

Rather than being a road running through the centre of Werribee, part of Watton Street could become a destination in its own right.

The idea would represent a major change for central Werribee, but pedestrian precincts elsewhere provide examples of how traditional shopping streets can be reshaped around people rather than vehicles.