Bannockburn Heart
The Bannockburn Heart is a visionary project that will create a vibrant community space in the centre of Bannockburn, Golden Plains Shire’s largest township.
Stage one
- Water play splash pad and adventure play equipment
- Upgraded site for the Golden Plains Farmers’ Market
- BBQ facilities and shade
- Public toilets and seating areas
- New car park
- Active recreation equipment
- Garden beds and planter boxes
- Relocation of Playgroup building and Scouts shed to a new location onsite
- Paved plaza for functions, events and gatherings
- Improved lighting, safety and accessibility.
Golden Plains Shire Council has secured funding from the Federal and State Governments to assist in funding stage one of this project. Stage one is a $2.6 million project.
Revised masterplans have been developed for the project in preparation for the detailed designs (and then construction). These concepts show what elements are going where and meet the many requirements stipulated by our funding partners. They also reflect the community aspirations and feedback gathered in consultation since 2013. You can learn more about how the community was consulted and what they had to say via the Vision Plan Report.
Stage One and Two MasterPlan (staging plan)
Stage two - not yet funded
- Village green
- Performance stage
- Further space for the Farmers' Market.
Project status
Extensive consultation around the Bannockburn Heart play space took place in September 2017 (find out more in the 'Consultation' section') and we are now entering the Detailed Design stage. This will see the development of the detailed plans for this exciting new space. Architects will work with the conceptual masterplans we developed in 2017, which incorporated community feedback gathered over the years.
So far, the site has undergone drainage and car park works, removal of the water tanks, installation of new fire protection infrastructure for the Bannockburn Library and Cultural Centre, and relocation of the Playgroup Building. The new Bannockburn Heart car park is also now complete and a sign has been installed onsite for the community, to show the key elements of the project.
A consultant has been appointed to commence the detailed design process. These will be completed by the end of 2018, and key construction will follow. Stage one of the project will be completed by the end of 2019.
Council will continue to keep residents updated. If you have any questions, please call us on 5220 7111 or lodge an enquiry on the link below.
Community consultation to date
Comprehensive community consultation was undertaken in 2013 to develop a Vision Report for the project. This included a community listening post in Bannockburn, with feedback forms for residents and visitors to have their say. This event was promoted through advertising, media releases and flyers.
Bannockburn Primary School students were also heavily involved in the initial consultation, with almost 200 students attending a series of workshops which included take-home messages for their parents.
Feedback from initial community engagement fed into the Draft Vision, which was put out to the community for review and feedback. Recently, revised masterplans were developed in preparation for the Detailed Designs.
In 2017, students were further involved, via an excursion to a large-scale playground, similar to that which is envisioned for the Heart. Through observation and comments, Council staff were able to see what types of equipment the children preferred and spent the most time on.
Conversation booths and online voting in relation to select aspects of the play space commenced in September 2017. Feedback from these activities will feed into the Detailed Designs for the project.
Timeline
● 2017
Community consultation and commencement of preliminary works.
● December 2018
Detailed design of stage one
● 2019
Major construction of stage one. Construction due to be completed by December 2019.
MORE INFORMATION
David Greaves, Works Manager, is the project lead for Bannockburn Heart. You can contact him on 5220 7111, david.greaves@gplains.vic.gov.au or via our online portal.