A LOCAL produce outlet, a community hub and a new café are among the suggestions from Berri Barmera councillors for a prime piece of land in Berri’s CBD.
Council is currently discussing potential uses for the council-owned building on Vaughan Terrace, which was vacated by former tenants Alfresco’s Café earlier this year.
Elected members held an informal gathering at the site earlier this month to brainstorm ideas for the location, which included possible demolition, but Berri Barmera chief executive Karyn Burton said the community would be given the opportunity to share its own ideas.
“It is early days, and we will be going out to the community to get ideas and suggestions, because there are probably some ideas out there that the chamber hasn’t thought of that would be suitable for that building,” Ms Burton said.
“There’s been a whole range of suggestions from councillors, including a café, a local produce outlet, a community hub and more.
“There were even discussions about demolishing it altogether and returning it to landscaped space.
“We would invite anybody who has an idea to put it to council for us to consider.”
Ms Burton said it was important for the space to be used to bring more foot traffic to the Berri CBD.
“It’s in a very strategically advantageous location, right in the middle of the CBD,” she said.
“Hopefully whatever it is used for brings foot traffic into the CBD because then all the other traders benefit from it, and it helps revitalise the town centre.”
The future use of the space was also discussed at this month’s Berri Improvement Committee meeting.
The development of a plan for the building is part of the council’s CBD Revitalisation Plan, which was released earlier this year.