The mall was opened 25 years ago and concept plans for a major facelift were prepared two years ago.
Urban design consultants Urbanism Plus recently evaluated the work on the town centre after a further round of consultation with residents and businesspeople and presented its findings this week.
Urbanism Plus director Kobus Mentz said the proposals for the town centre and mall were "realistic rather than idealistic".
A final report on the redevelopment should be completed by the end of May and the Cromwell Community Board will then discuss funding.
No estimates have been given for the work.
"All of this can't happen at once because a lot of money is involved, but if you take it in bite sizes, it is fundable," Mr Mentz said.
Mall businessman Gary Anderson was positive about the proposals and said yesterday: "I take my hat off to them.
It's done professionally and done well.
"This is it now and we need to start work this year.
Something needs to be done on this before Christmas.
I think the community has the drive and determination to get something done now."
His comments were echoed by Cromwell Town Centre Committee chairman Graeme McDowell.
"I've been here for 13 years and the mall has stayed the same.
"We need to catch up with the times."
He could recall three different plans for revamping the mall in that time but said the most recent ones were by far the most practical.
"Hopefully, this time it'll get under way.
"I don't want to be in the old people's home before the mall is redeveloped," he said.
Mr Anderson said Cromwell was experiencing a growth phase and was "ahead of its time".
"We need to cast our nets wider than just catering for the locals and capture that passing trade, slow them down and get them into the mall."
He liked the suggestion in the Urbanism Plus report that trees blocking a view of the town from the highway should be thinned or cut down and also liked the idea of more links between the fruit sculpture and the mall. Residents and businesspeople had a lot of creative input into the proposals, but further feedback was welcome, Mr Mentz said.
Cromwell town centre
Proposals include:
- Improve signs on State Highway 8 opposite the Mall Connect the mall directly with the highway
- Create a vibrant "front " to present to visitors.
- Remove some shrubs in the mall, keeping the trees.
- Expand mall seating, with more tables for outdoor dining.
- Introduce sculptures and maybe a small bridge across the mall stream
- Place flags to mark the location of the mall
- Install extra toilet at the western entrance
- Attract specific tenants to make retail centre more attractive.
- Create more parking in Murray Tce
