Precinct 1
Precinct 1 covers the non-residential area north of Doncaster
Road between Council Street and JJ Tully Drive and includes
major civic and educational facilities, such as the Council
Offices and Doncaster Primary School, as well as key historic
buildings and areas of open space. It boasts spectacular views
of the mountain ranges to the north and east and offers easy
access to Westfield Doncaster.
Precinct 1 vision:
'The creation of a consolidated, prominent
and accessible civic centre with an expanded community and
education focus, with gateway presence. It will also include
a major urban open space / green spine for Doncaster Hill
Activity Centre residents and the wider Manningham community.
It is also envisaged to incorporate strong pedestrian links
to other areas of the Doncaster Hill Activity Centre and
enhance the historic / arts sub-precinct.'
(Manningham Planning Scheme - Clause 21.21-1)
Precinct 1 Masterplan image
Precinct 1 Masterplan
The Doncaster Hill Precinct 1 Masterplan was guides the
development of Precinct 1, expected to occur of the next 20
to 30 years. The Precinct 1 Masterplan was approved by Council
in February 2010, following extensive community
consultation in mid-2009.
The Masterplan provides for:
- a prominent, accessible civic hub for the whole municipality,
with expanded community and education focus
- an identified community need for new facilities and replacement
of existing facilities within the Civic Precinct area
- balanced social environmental outcomes throughout the
Doncaster Hill are
- strong pedestrian links to other areas within the Activity
Centre
- quality public open space for the community
- enhancement of the historic/arts sub-precinct
- rigorous and responsible financial planning and accountability.
The initial stage of the Masterplan, the Civic Precinct development,
is anticipated for completion by 2012.
Civic Precinct
The development of the Civic Precinct Community Hub will
be the first stage of development in Precinct 1. It will involve
the construction of a new environmentally sustainable community
facility adjacent to the existing municipal offices.
The Community Hub building will co-locate a number of cultural,
social and community facilities and services in a central
location to meet the growing needs of the Manningham community.
View the Images
page for more Civic Precinct images
The $37.7 million development will include:
- an art gallery
- a state-of-the-art library
- café facilities
- Doncare
- Chinese Community Social Services
- Manningham Community Health Services
- Interact Australia
- YMCA
- Family services, childcare, maternal and child health
and preschool facilities
- underground car parking for up to 200 cars and 190 surface
parking spaces
- Civic Forecourt and landscaped outdoor spaces
- transport hub with bus interchange and shared bicycle/pedestrian
facilities.
The successful development of the Civic Precinct will play
a very significant municipal-wide role in the provision of
space for social interaction and cultural development opportunities,
and community meetings. It will form the Civic and Community
Hub for all residents of Manningham and complement the commercial
and residential development in the adjoining areas of Doncaster
Hill.
This project will be a showcase for leading edge sustainable
urban planning and development. Design, construction and operation
is to be to a 5-star (energy and water) NABERS standard, and
achieving at least 5-star Green Star (passive design) standard,
with aspirations for 6-star.
A trigeneration facility will supply heating, cooling and
power to the existing Civic Offices and the Community Centre
via a micro-grid, and a sustainability education hub, co-located
with the library will provide educational opportunities.
Library
A new state-of-the-art Doncaster Library is one of the facilities
to be provided in the Civic Precinct.
The Doncaster
branch of the Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library Corporation
was located in Westfield Doncaster prior to the commencement
of the recent redevelopment and is currently in a temporary
location at 1 Hummell Way (at the rear of the Scout Hall,
off JJ Tully Drive behind Council offices).
Council has received $500,000 through the State Government's
Living Libraries program for the development of the new library,
which will significantly improve public library infrastructure
and be a valuable asset for the whole of the Manningham community
into the future and a place for people to meet, access technology,
information, and reading resources.
As the temporary library is smaller than the permanent facility,
some services are likely to be slightly modified, although
core library services have been maintained.
Funding and financial management
The estimated cost of the stage 1 of the Civic Precinct,
which is expected to be completed within three years, is just
under $35 million.
Financial management of the project will focus on no rates
dependence, drawing on the Development Contributions Plan
Overlay (DCPO) and Westfield contributions, as well as targeting
Federal and State Government grants.
A Financial Capacity Analysis has been undertaken, showing
that Council has capacity to fund the development without
detriment to its five year Capital Works Program and adopted
Budget.
Planning Permit
Council issued a Notice of Decision to grant a permit for
Stage 1 works - the construction of a $37.5 million environmentally
sustainable Community Centre adjacent to the Council offices
in Doncaster - on 2 February 2010. The Council Report for
the permit application can be viewed in the 2
February Council Minutes (9.7Mb).
The decision was appealed and has since been called in by
the Minister for Planning.
Consultation
Extensive consultation and communications with stakeholders
regarding the Civic Precinct project will be ongoing. Displays
can be viewed at the Civic Centre and Library in Doncaster.
For more information on the development of the Civic Precinct
contact Council on 9840 9333 or email doncasterhill@manningham.vic.gov.au.
|
