Muswellbrook Shire Council is seeking nominees for a new CBD Improvement Advisory Committee, as the town prepares for life with the New England Highway Muswellbrook Bypass.
The new body will advise Council on how to develop the Muswellbrook CBD for local businesses, new investment and increased activity, as changes to traffic and movement reshape the town.
It will be chaired by Mayor Jeff Drayton, supported by three Councillors. Council is seeking expressions of interest from CBD business owners and community representatives in early 2026 to enshrine local input.
Muswellbrook Shire Councillors have endorsed terms of reference for the committee and expressions of interest are now open.
Council’s Director Community and Economy Shaelee Richards said the committee will add clarity and impetus to town centre planning at a key moment in Muswellbrook’s development.
“The bypass will change how people move within and through Muswellbrook and this committee is about responding to that change in a planned and coordinated way,” Ms Richards said.
“The long-term priority is to strengthen the CBD economically, socially and visually so it’s a hub for community life well into the future.”
The committee’s scope will include physical renewal such as streetscapes, public spaces, parking, signage and wayfinding, gateways, landscaping and public art.
It will also advise on place identity, marketing, promotion and digital infrastructure.
Community engagement, accessibility, safety and sustainability will be central to the committee’s focus, as will ensuring that CBD projects reflect local character and deliver long-term benefit.
It will also deliver a post-bypass CBD Masterplan, updates to Council’s Public Domain Manual, designs for town gateways, and a marketing and communications plan to promote the CBD and raise business confidence.
Muswellbrook Mayor Jeff Drayton said the new CBD committee will promote collaboration and decision-making for a vital town centre.
“Bringing Councillors, businesses and community members together at the table lets us test the big ideas and target investment where we need it most,” Mayor Drayton said.
“Businesses and locals are our key stakeholders for the town centre and having them at the core of its development is critical to getting this right.”
The Muswellbrook CBD Improvement Advisory Committee will report to Council, with its recommendations considered through formal decision-making processes.
The creation of the Muswellbrook CBD Improvement Advisory Committee aligns with Council’s Community Strategic Plan – Thriving Economy, its Delivery Program commitment to activate the Muswellbrook Town Centre, and its operational focus to increase occupancy and use of public spaces in the CBD.
Expressions of interest for business and community representatives are open until January 18, 2026, through the Council website.
Via Muswellbrook Shire Council
