Council Agenda 26/03/18 Plan 7.2 Balwyn Community Centre ... · 7.2 Balwyn Community Centre...

Council Agenda 26/03/18

City of Boroondara 28

7.2 Balwyn Community Centre Redevelopment Concept Plan

Abstract

This report seeks Council endorsement of the concept plan and informs Council of the progress of the planning and design phases for the Balwyn Community Centre (BCC) Redevelopment. The Balwyn Structure Plan (BSP) notes the potential for the development of a community services hub in the Balwyn Activity Centre through the co-location of community services. The BSP supports the redesign or redevelopment of the BCC buildings to enable greater use of the buildings for a range of community functions. As part of the BCC redevelopment project, there is an opportunity to co-locate the Balwyn Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCH) at 1 Cherry Road, Balwyn with the BCC where there is an existing occasional childcare centre. This is consistent with previous Council strategies and planning for early years’ facilities, where the co-location of MCH with early years’ services is recommended. In October 2016, Croxon Ramsay Architects was appointed for the provision of Architectural Design and Consultancy Services to this project.

Extensive community engagement and user group consultation has been undertaken to inform the project design. Croxon Ramsay Architects have completed the ‘Return Design Brief’ and concept plan for the project. A Cost Plan has been prepared by an independent quantity surveyor. The Cost Plan estimates the overall project cost for the redevelopment of Balwyn Community Centre to be generally in line with the proposed budget in Council’s long term financial strategy.

Officers' recommendation

That Council resolve to: 1. Note and endorse the concept plan for the Balwyn Community Centre

Redevelopment included in Attachment 1 (as annexed to the minutes). 2. Proceed to detailed design and tender for the building works contract for the

Balwyn Community Centre Redevelopment.



Responsible director: Bruce DobsonEnvironment & Infrastructure

___________________________________________________________________

1. Purpose

This report seeks Council endorsement of the concept plan and informs Council of the progress of the planning and design phases for the Balwyn Community Centre (BCC) Redevelopment.

2. Policy implications and relevance to council plan

The BCC redevelopment projects aligns with Council's mission as stated in the Council Plan 2017-21: 'The City of Boroondara will provide services, facilities, support and advocacy to enable our community to further its sense of place and connection.’ This project is also consistent with ‘Theme 1: Strong and engaged communities’, 'Theme 2: Sustainable environment’ and ‘Theme 4: Quality facilities and assets'. The project also aligns with Strategic Objective 1 of the Boroondara Community Plan, being 'Community Services and Facilities are high quality, inclusive and meet a variety of needs now and into the future', and specifically to Strategy 1.1 - 'Plan, maintain and renew multipurpose facilities and sports precincts to meet broad, intergenerational needs of the community now and into the future'.

3. Background

The BCC site is situated at 408-418 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills. There is a neighbourhood house containing classrooms for activities and programs, a function centre, an occasional childcare centre, three tennis courts, and a community garden and indigenous wetlands in an extensive parkland setting. The BCC is one of 10 neighbourhood houses in Boroondara and offers health and fitness programs, art and crafts, language classes, computer classes, book groups and gardening. The Balwyn Structure Plan (BSP) notes the potential for the development of a community services hub in the Balwyn Activity Centre through the co-location of community services. The BSP supports the redesign or redevelopment of the BCC buildings to enable greater use of the buildings for a range of community functions. As part of the BCC redevelopment project, there is an opportunity to co-locate the Balwyn Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCH) at 1 Cherry Road, Balwyn with the BCC where there is an existing occasional childcare centre.

This project was initially foreshadowed in the long term financial strategy in the 2009-10 adopted budget, for the period between 2013-14 and 2018-19. The 2015-16 adopted budget made allowance for consultation and preplanning with construction to be undertaken from 2017-18 to 2018-19. In October 2016, Croxon Ramsay Architects was appointed for the provision of Architectural Design and Consultancy Services to this project.



Extensive community engagement and user group consultation has been undertaken to inform the project design. Croxon Ramsay Architects have completed the ‘Return Design Brief’ and concept plan for the project. Consultation and engagement with the community and users of the facility has occurred in accordance with the community consultation and engagement plan and this feedback has informed the project design.

A Cost Plan has been prepared by an independent quantity surveyor. The Cost Plan reflects the ‘Return Design Brief’ requirements as detailed in section 4a, which include ecologically sustainable design in accordance with Council’s Sustainable Buildings Policy.

4. Outline of key issues/options

a. Project Return Design Brief The ‘Return Design Brief’ prepared by Croxon Ramsay Architects includes the feedback from the community engagement process and the instructions provided by Council for the Balwyn Community Centre Redevelopment. The concept plan, as per Attachment 1, prepared by Croxon Ramsay Architects for the Balwyn Community Centre Redevelopment works is consistent with Council’s project brief and the return design brief. The redevelopment works will include:

the reconfiguration of some rooms within the main house whilst retaining the character of the original building,

rebuilding the rear building with a first floor addition incorporating the occasional childcare centre and the re-located and expanded two-nurse MCH centre on the ground floor and more functional and additional program spaces on the first floor,

refurbishment of the function centre, improvements to the community garden and re-planting of the wetlands, the creation of a recreation zone to open the site to Whitehorse Road,

including the upgrade of one tennis court and the removal of two courts, and the addition of other recreation facilities, such as a playground, a

children’s learn to ride area, and exercise equipment and table tennis. b. Project cost

A Cost Plan has recently been prepared with the assistance of an independent quantity surveyor. The Cost Plan reflects the ‘Return Design Brief’ requirements, which have been described above. The Cost Plan estimates the overall project cost to be $7.8M which is in line with the funding allocated for this project in the long term financial strategy. c. Project Program The building works program is proceeding with tenders scheduled to be requested in August 2018 and the outcomes reported to Council following conclusion of the tender process. Construction is scheduled to commence in October 2018, and the redevelopment to be completed in June 2019.



5. Consultation/communication

A significant program of communication and engagement has been conducted to understand the local community needs and aspirations for the site. The consultation included facilitated on-site conversations, and a survey of participants, staff, tutors and local residents. The engagement aspect of this project has been undertaken in three stages. Stage 1 (April 2016) sought community members’ and user groups' ideas for the redevelopment of the site. Following this, a draft concept design was developed that incorporated the ideas taking into account the operational, financial and engineering priorities. Stage 2 (March 2017) involved the presentation of the resulting draft concept plans to the community for feedback. Stage 3 (October 2017) invited community members and user group to comment on the final concept design. There was strong support for the redevelopment with suggestions for minor changes that can be incorporated into the final design.

In response to Stage 1 consultation seven objectives were developed, and these objectives are addressed in the concept plans.

Objective 1: Create functional spaces for neighbourhood house programs and community groups, including enlarged/additional multipurpose style rooms.

The neighbourhood house will have additional and more functional program and activity spaces. This includes space to replace the ‘barn’ area (location of relocated purpose-built MCH), additional classrooms, and larger and more functional spaces. This is achieved without decreasing open spaces or changing the character of the main house. Objective 2: Improve the lifespan and environmental sustainability of Council’s infrastructure whilst minimising operational costs.

Council's Sustainable Buildings Policy will be applied in redeveloping the facility. Ongoing operational costs will be minimised.

Objective 3: Relocate MCH onto the BCC site (two nurse unit with waiting area and facilities) and upgrade the 20 place occasional childcare centre.

The Balwyn MCH will relocated onsite and be a two nurse unit. Co-location of the Balwyn MCH and the occasional childcare will increase opportunities for partnership, including with the BCC. The occasional childcare centre has improved spaces and storage. Objective 4: Revitalise the native vegetation in the wetland and park.

The final landscape design will aim to revitalise and restore native vegetation in consultation with the Friends of Kergunyah Wetland. Objective 5: Provide greater access for community members to participate in growing edible plants locally without reducing parkland.

Improvements to the community garden provide more members of the local community access to local opportunities for growing edible plants.



Objective 6: Increase visibility and accessibility of Balwyn Community Centre from Whitehorse Road.

Visibility from Whitehorse Road is increased and will encourage people to enter the site and use its facilities. There is improved access for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to the site. Concerns from pedestrians about feeling safe walking through the site are addressed through installing signage, lighting, art displays and visitor facilities. Objective 7: Provide a recreational zone with infrastructure and open space to increase outdoor physical activity and social participation.

Recreation opportunities include an upgraded tennis court with improved access, a learn to ride/scoot track, family play spaces, table tennis and exercise equipment for the local community to use. Key Council departments that have had input and worked collaboratively on this project include Community Planning and Development, Family, Youth and Recreation, Projects and Strategy, Communication and Engagement, Traffic and Transport, Parks & Infrastructure and Environment & Sustainable Living.

The project Steering Committee comprising Councillors Jane Addis and Cynthia Watson, has met regularly to be briefed on the project status and has provided input into the project development.

6. Financial and resource implications

As noted in section 4 of this report, the Cost Plan estimates the overall project cost to be $7.8M, which is in line with the allocation for this project in the Long Term Finacial Strategy. On completion of the tender phase for the project, a report to Council will be prepared for the appointment of a building contractor and will include a final reconciliation of proposed project funding.

7. Governance issues

The implications of this report have been assessed in accordance with the requirements of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.The officers responsible for this report have no direct or indirect interests requiring disclosure.

8. Social and environmental issues

Neighbourhood houses/community centres play a critical role in connecting people in local communities. The upgrade of the BCC site will enable the BCC to meet the current and future needs of a growing and increasingly diverse population, and will create a community hub through the co-location of the MCH.



The proposed recreation zone at the front of the site will provide a range of casual recreation facilities for a variety of age groups. The outdoor space is valued by the community and re-invigorating the natural environment will encourage its use, as well as restore the wetland area and revegetate native plants. This will strengthen biodiversity links and assist the movement of native wildlife across the municipality.

9. Conclusion

The Return Design Brief has been prepared by Croxon Ramsay Architects and final documentation of the project is underway in preparation for upcoming tender processes. Officers recommend that the concept plan included in Attachment 1 be endorsed and that Council proceed to tender for the building works contract for the Balwyn Community Centre redevelopment.

Manager: Charles Turner, Projects & Strategy

Report officer: Joe Capomolla, Project Manager

Balwyn Community

Centre

Concept Plan


City of Boroondara Attachment 7.2.1 34

Council Agenda 26/03/18 Plan 7.2 Balwyn Community Centre ... · 7.2 Balwyn Community Centre...

Documents

Transcript of Council Agenda 26/03/18 Plan 7.2 Balwyn Community Centre ... · 7.2 Balwyn Community Centre...