IF Naracoorte's Robertson St is to be upgraded, the businesses on the street appear to be right behind it.
The Herald on January 24 revealed Naracoorte Lucindale Council's concept plans to give the town's "third main street" a facelift, and Business and Tourism Association president Judy Johnson, who also runs prominent Robertson St business the Veg Shed, said it was needed.
"It could do with a little tidying up - just to improve the appearance," she said.
The Herald story followed a presentation at the council's January meeting by urban designer Bill Chandler.
In that presentation Mr Chandler detailed three options for an upgrade.
Option one - the most basic - involved strategically planting trees, painting pedestrian lines and bike lanes.
The second included the above plus intersection treatments at three intersections along Robertson St, involving paving and protuberances. This would result in some parking space losses.
Option three is the all out approach which would include the above two options plus exploring outdoor dining and better exposure for businesses whose rear entrances face Robertson St.
The Herald's website had a poll on the three options open for the public to view.
Nearly 60 per cent of the 38 respondents voted in favour of option three, the most expensive.
Ms Johnson said she would certainly like to see one "eyesore" removed from visible sight on the street.
"It would be lovely to see the powerlines put underground," she said.
The council has already looked into this but was advised by the Essential Services Commission of SA that streetscape concept plans would need to be done before they would consider the project for funding.
Ms Johnson also felt improved lighting would greatly improve the street.
"It's quite dark, especially near McDonald's and the pubs where a lot of people are walking on the weekends after the pubs or nightclub."
More businesses opening up entrances on Robertson St, rather than just having the rear of the buildings, was also a good idea in Ms Johnson's opinion.
"Any development is a good idea," she said.
But she was also quick to point out that any development ideas would need to "be mindful of existing businesses," especially in relation to loading zones.
"They do have to keep in mind access to the shops already there." But on a whole she was pleased the council was looking to improve the area.
"It would bring customers in," she concluded.
Other business owners on the street agreed.
Salalay Thai Restaurant owner Rudi Wrana said the benefits of an upgrade would be widespread across the entire length of the street.
"It would be terrific if they upgraded this side of the street a little," he said.
"I think everybody in the street would benefit a little bit...it would make it a little bit nicer."
He specifically mentioned upgrading the lighting on Rivoli La as a good start - which would enhance his business as well as Beauty at Rivoli across the lane.
"It's very dark," he said.
Bushman's Arms owner Jack Jennings said he saw improvements on Robertson St as something that had to be done.
"Improving the footpaths and drainage on the street is necessary," he said. "The footpaths are a disgrace."
Mr Jennings was involved in a similar project for Adelaide's O'Connell St - now one of the premiere boutique streets in the city - to bring it up to scratch with other places in Adelaide like Norwood's Parade.
He said planting trees, fixing footpaths and undergrounding powerlines were a good start.
"The undergrounding of powerlines makes a huge difference," Mr Jennings said.
He said an upgrade of Robertson St to create dual entries on the street along with their Smith St shopfronts in theory was a good idea, but posed some physical problems with more security needed and less storeroom space.
The loss of on-street parking would tighten the situation at the Bushman's, with the public already using their private carpark without being patrons of the hotel.
"I'd reluctantly say if parking was reduced then we'd probably have to start to police the car park," he said.
But he did admit an upgrade to the streetscape would be good.
The Bushman's does currently have outdoor seating and dining and has in the past planned to move the bottle shop to another part of the building to enhance that outdoor area with landscaping and possible extensions.
"If the street looked more attractive we may increase the area, something more attractive than what they (patrons) are looking at now...we'd love to do more landscaping in that area," Mr Jennings explained.
Dawn's Cakes 'N' More owner Dawn Moritz also welcomed the plans for an upgrade.
"I think it's a brilliant idea...it would be great for Naracoorte," she said. "It would open the place up a bit."
She said wind on Robertson St was a problem, and had prevented her from opening up her shop for outdoor dining.
Planting trees for wind breaks could fix this.
Ms Moritz said protuberances in the road would also cause people to slow down more and avoid potential accidents, especially in front of her shop which is the busy Robertson/Jones St intersection.
"I've been here 15 months and the traffic has increased significantly," she said. "I think those protuberances would be good, we do get some accidents."
The protuberances would also encourage people do have more of a look at what the street has to offer.
"People driving through will have more time to see what's happening on Robertson St," Ms Moritz said.
Not everyone on Robertson St was 100 per cent sold on the plans.
Hair on Robertson owner Scott Marr said he was "all for progress" and "keen to see the street beautified" - but not at the expense of parking.
He said there was a lot of traffic on Robertson St owing to the Kincraig Plaza, and it's not just locals using the street.
"I see a lot of long vehicles on the street - caravans and travellers - any moves to make it harder for them is a backward step," Mr Marr said.
