Corowa Shire Council's allocation of $50,000 from the Australian Government Community Infrastructure Program will enable Howlong's Hawkins Street central business district to be beautified.

An exciting landscape plan is currently on display at the Howlong Community Resource Centre. The plan takes in the section of Hawkins Street areas bound by Sturt and Hovell Streets.

Construction will shortly commence on the plan in order to meet the September 30 completion deadline.

Local Howlong business Masterscapes has been appointed to implement the project. Masterscapes established the garden at the Howlong Community Resource Centre, which has been a highly praised community garden.

A number of challenges were set as a part of the project brief including the need for community amenity, safety, harsh climatic conditions with limited irrigation potential and the current sparse landscape conditions as a result of prolonged drought and the reality that Hawkins Street is also a State Highway.

With this in mind Council are urging locals to support Masterscapes during the construction period as some inconveniences may result from the required works.

Howlong Councillor Mark Shields and Deputy Mayor Fiona Schirmer are ecstatic at what this project will mean for Howlong.

"This project was formally identified by the community as a top priority when the Howlong Community Economic Development Strategic Plan was completed during 2005, but planning work had already been undertaken long before that" said Councillor Mark Shields.

"The landscape plan is an extension of the existing plan, which was originally developed by the Hume Shire Council, Corowa Shire Council has already undertaken numerous aspects of that plan with the past implementation of new kerbs and street trees" he said.

He continued "I am just so pleased that we can finally deliver on this community priority and that we will be able to create a magnificent looking Streetscape."

Deputy Mayor Fiona Schirmer praised the Australian Government for their allocation of funds to Council which has enabled this project to happen and says that there will be significant community and economic benefits.

"The benefits of this beautification will be far reaching as it should improve the appeal of the area to residents, visitors and businesses and therefore increase activity within the central business district".

Council has urged the community to view the plans at the Resource Centre and to be mindful and cautious whilst the works are being undertaken.