Southern-based design group JMG Engineering and Lindsay Campbell Landscape Services released the plans earlier this month, detailing two possible blueprints for a new village green or town square at 33 Church Street.

The plans factor in suggestions made at community consultation sessions held earlier this year and seek to ‘provide a simple, minimalist layout with low maintenance tree plantings and an absence of extensive shrubberies and planting beds’.

Both plans also include links to existing pedestrian pathways and multi-use shelters which could be used for music performances or public events.

Northern Midlands mayor David Downie encouraged Ross residents to have their say on how they would like the area to take shape.

“The council has bought the land and now the opportunity is there to seek input as to how the council can develop that land, which is basically a paddock now, into a village green,” Cr Downie said.

“This is a great opportunity for the people of Ross to be involved in putting a plan together for how we can develop a park in the middle of Ross.” 

Cr Downie said while it was likely to take some time for the space to fully reflect the designs outlined in the draft plan, council was hoping to start work on the project as soon as possible.

“With these things they're always being added to, you look at the parks that council has in other towns; those parks are always being added to. 

“That’s healthy and that’s good because people’s ideas change and so the parks evolve over time, but it’s all about building up more reasons for people to stop in the village of Ross.”

Council has committed to continually seeking input from the Ross Local District Committee and will include the project in its upcoming budgets. 

The Ross Town Square master plan draft will be open for comment until 5pm on November 4.

To view or make comments on the plan, visit the Ross Post Office or www.northernmidlands.tas.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?page_Id=534&h=0