Austin Street Pop-Up Park closes the road to vehicles for an 18-month trial from this month.
Austin Street Pop-Up Park began construction on 19 January, closing vehicle access between Austin and Victoria streets in Seddon.
Austin Street Pop-Up Park emerged as a priority from the Seddon Neighbourhood Plan, with council approving the trial in August 2025. Construction runs from 19 January to 13 February, weather permitting, transforming the street into green space with timber decking, lawn, garden beds, concrete safety bollards and furniture. Vehicle access stays closed for the full 18-month trial period while the community provides feedback on the temporary park.
Construction happens between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday, with site establishment including fencing, tree protection and sign modifications. Traffic management redirects vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists down Austin Street and along Victoria Street. Site clearing removes pedestrian islands and patches asphalt sections of road before installation begins on the park elements.
Austin Street Pop-Up Park – Seddon
- Where: Austin Street between Austin Street and Victoria Street, Seddon
- When: Construction 19 January-13 February, 18-month trial follows
- Value: $150,000
- Contractor: Trifolium
- Hours: Construction 7am-5pm Monday-Friday
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Some parking changes come with the trial. Loading zones along Austin Street outside 97 Victoria Street can’t be used during construction and the trial period. Existing disabled parking shifts to outside 78 Austin Street. Footpath access stays open along north and south sides of Austin Street, with pedestrian access across the street managed by contractors during construction.
Noise and dust from construction will be managed and minimised by Trifolium throughout the build. Waste collection continues unaffected despite the road closure and construction activity. Community feedback gets collected during the trial to inform whether the pop-up park becomes permanent or reverts to vehicle access.
Pop-up parks test how communities respond to car-free public space before committing to permanent infrastructure changes. Eighteen months reportedly gives enough time to observe seasonal patterns, usage across different weather conditions, and how local residents and businesses adapt to the altered traffic flow. Seddon residents flagged this through the neighbourhood planning process, suggesting appetite existed for more green space in the area.
Austin Street’s closure redirects vehicle movement but maintains pedestrian connectivity throughout construction and trial phases. Timber decking and lawn create flexible gathering space while garden beds add greenery to the streetscape. Concrete safety bollards keep vehicles out without creating visual barriers that would isolate the park from surrounding footpaths.
Trial periods like this let councils test infrastructure changes with community input before permanent decisions get made. If usage justifies the space and traffic impacts prove manageable, the pop-up could transition to permanent parkland. If issues arise or Seddon community feedback skews negative, vehicle access returns and lessons learned inform future projects elsewhere.
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