On Tuesday, Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie said council was seeking public input as they review the Gateway Island Master Plan. 

She said once completed the plan would be married to Albury Council’s Murray River Experience Master Plan to create a succinct strategy for along the river. 

“I think it’s absolutely an underutilised asset but we’ve had some pretty big things to achieve in the last few years,” Cr Speedie said.

“We’ve had Logic, we’ve had our CBD development, which is still undergoing some of that transformation, this is the next big thing, the next opportunity for our city.”

Cr Speedie said a $5 million upgrade, five years ago, created a vibrant artist precinct and this review was about creating more opportunities.

She said the area’s development could end up being the Twin City’s first big project, despite the two councils creating separate plans. 

Cr Speedie said the completed project was referenced in the Two Cities One Community Action Plan and would hopefully attract funding from the state and federal governments.

“Once we’ve done the plan we’re absolutely going to make sure that there’s not two separate plans,” she said.

“There are two sides of the river and we need to make sure they talk to each other.

“If we stand together on that and approach federal and state government I think we’ve got a good shot.”

For the purposes of the master plan review project, the island has been divided into six precincts: village, Diamond Park, events area, Gateway Lakes, grazing land and Lincoln Causeway.

“Having our artists based here, it’s a really vibrant spot and we are seeing our events centre grow, and around that the lakes precinct, we have the Chryslers On The Murray which brings 780 cars and about 20,000 people over the weekend,” Cr Speedie said.

“We’ve got all these things and the space and what other things do we need to do to attract those events that create jobs and put money into our economy.”

Cr Speedie said nothing should be ruled out at this stage, including the idea of turning the former Weatherall Masonary site into a caravan park but the area’s development needed to be mindful of the region’s tendency to flood. 

She said no formal application for the park had been submitted to council.

Open houses with the project team will be held on February 20 from 2.30pm to 8.30pm at the Butter Factory Theater, and again on March 7 at the La Maison Cafe.

She said residents can share photos of what they value about Gateway Island through social media using hashtag #MyGatewayIsland.