Skinner Street dream a reality

Street of change: Annie Dodd takes a walk down South Grafton’s newly refurbished Skinner Street.

IT has been a long time coming, but now the product of months of consultation and years of lobbying is on display for locals and tourists to appreciate.

Skinner Street, South Grafton, is now fully beautified and ready for a party.

This Saturday, the street is set to take on a carnival-like atmosphere with events happening up and down the few redeveloped blocks, and one of the key people behind the development, Annie Dodd, could not be happier.

“We have been working towards this for a long time and all you have to do is walk outside to see that it has all been worth it,” Ms Dodd said from her Skinner Street business, The Alchemy.

“There has been so much consultation, economic analysis, and engineering and there has also been a cultural assessment to ensure that the design of the street is relevant to the people.”

As the newfound appreciation for South Grafton’s historic street has grown, shopfronts are gradually filling up and Ms Dodd hopes soon there will not be an empty space in the street.

“We have new businesses and even an art gallery filled with Anne Faulkner’s works in the street now. It has a totally new feel and all of the existing businesses should see the benefit of the development. All of this improvement goes to show what the shopping district in South Grafton could be,” she said.

Noel Smith, of City Centre Traders, said while Prince Street, Grafton, still had room for improvement, he was happy to see such an extensive development in the town.

“It really is a great thing for Skinner Street and may even pave the way for a similar development on the north side of the bridge,” Mr Smith said.

“Whatever is good for South Grafton is good for the whole Valley. The entire area has been moving ahead in leaps and bounds. All you have to do is drive around and see that everywhere from the crossroads and the Bi-Lo complex to Skinner Street and you can see that new businesses are opening their doors all the time.

“As long as the business stays local, nothing bad can come of it.”

Now all that has to happen is the official opening of the newly developed Skinner Street, which should go off with a bang.

This Saturday from 8am there will be music, food and a whole heap of fun along the street.

Farmer Lou’s will have a free breakfast from 8am to 9.30am and there will be musicians on the stages from 8am.

Chefs from the Clarence Valley will then join competitive forces and have a very public cook off at 10.30am, so head along to find out who takes the top gong.

Things will take on an official tone for a little while at 10am, with Clarence Valley mayor Richie Williamson welcoming the crowd and opening the development.