New square a social hub
Katanning Town Square was officially opened by Regional Development Minister Terry Redman last Wednesday afternoon.
The square, which was part of an $8 million revitalisation of the town centre funded by Royalties for Regions, features landscaping, seating, a stage, water feature and 24-hour public toilets - a first for the town.
Free wi-fi was also launched at the facility last Wednesday.
Shire of Katanning president Alan McFarland said minor work was still to be done, including the installation of CCTV and sound and audio facilities, but he was happy with the result so far.
"I see people using it all the time, grabbing a coffee and having lunch," he said.
"Also, the fact that finally after years … we have public toilets down here, and they are open 24 hours a day - we haven't had that before."
Mr McFarland said he hoped the facility would be used for concerts, plays and festivals in the future.
"It should be a social hub," he said.
Before unveiling the plaque, Mr Redman said he was impressed with the main street and the town square revitalisation.
"Quite frankly, looking out there, it could be the middle of Perth," he said.
"To be here … in the town square … the technology, the amenity, the lawn, the water feature behind me, makes the town centre something that quite rightly something that attracts people to be a part of.
"We need those elements in communities if you're going to grow and develop communities."
Stage two of the main street revitalisation project was also given a $350,000 funding boost last week under the State Government's Growing our South initiative.
