The city’s new central business area revitalisation plan — endorsed at last night’s council meeting — provides for temporary closure of the “Woodland Grove precinct”, including Hovell Street between Lawrence Street and Elgin Boulevard, for major events.

And the plan also stipulates that if trial closures work “this could become a future new civic-community square”.

The plan states that the council will “in the long term, investigate enhancing the Woodland Grove precinct, by creating a community square to accommodate a wide range of activities for all”.

A note in the meeting agenda said investigating the feasibility of an urban square “which extends Woodland Grove to interface with The Cube Wod- onga” was a key priority.

But mayor Rodney Wangman brushed aside any suggestion this statement referred to closing Hovell Street, saying it was “a bit of a long bow to draw”.

“Hovell Street is still there. It has nothing to do with the language contained in this report about the central business district,” he said after the meeting.

Cr Wangman said “interfaces” referred to the pathways and connections that would allow people move from one area to another of the new, pedestrian-friendly city centre.

The plan is the council’s vision for the city for the next 20 years, based on a year of research and consultation.

It divides the city centre into three precincts — arts and culture in Woodland Grove, including The Cube and Hovell Street; the Village, in High Street, and the Boulevard, including Junction Place.

Aside from more retail and dining options, and the creation of a nightlife scene, the plan also envisages more city living with Junction Place and CBD West — where the council-owned, former pool site in Stanley Street lays vacant after more than two years — seen as key development areas.

Cr Wangman said there were still no plans before council for the Stanley Street site.

The council agreed in March, after a concerted community campaign, not to push ahead with its contentious bid to close Hovell Street.

It put safeguards in place to ensure the idea could not be revisited for several years, including that Elgin Boulevard roadwork be completed for at least two years and that a major retailer move into the northern end of the street.

With the Elgin Boulevard realignment almost finished and the announcement that K-Mart and Coles will move in to new Manns development, these points could be realised.