With ornamental pear trees planted along the medium strip, palms trees lining the side of the road and a landscaped area for residents and visitors to enjoy, the area has been rejuvenated to beautify the town.

Residents are overjoyed to see the transformation take place, with Tracey Cunningham describing the progress as exciting.

“It has been a long wait,” she said.

“The Gladstone Community Development and Tourism Association has been wanting that land for a number of years.”

She said the area was barren.

People from the community have helped pitch in, with the stone wall being done by volunteers.

A medium strip down the middle of the road will control traffic flow. Ms Cunnigham said the road would be safer for pedestrians to cross.

“Our main street was letting us down with tourism,” she said.

“It did not make people want to stop.”

She said when the pear trees were bigger they would be lit up around Christmas.

“There has been a lot of support from the community,” she said.

“That is the only way things get done.”

The project is now in its final stages and there could be plans to upgrade Cross Street.

The association would like more funding to add equipment to the playground.

Ms Cunningham said the upgrades would make the town tourism friendly.

“We want to draw people in,” she said.

“Tourism is our future.” The Northern Areas Council has been given in kind work to the project and Ms Cunningham had nothing but praise for their technical services manager David Cowin.

“He had some suggestions and forward planning,” she said. “He has been so fantastic about the project.”

There was some grant funding from Regional Partnerships, Places for People, Department of Trade and Economic Development as well as council support.

The project has included work carried out to construct a car park area, placing trees in the medium strip, paving and installation of bollards, building a stone wall, constructing a playground, planting a garden and laying the irrigation system. Shelter sheds will be installed and there will be paving along Main Street.