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Beecroft Station Gardens & Beecroft Community Centre

Background

In July and August 2016, Council consulted with the stakeholders and the community, presenting plans for the Beecroft Station Gardens and Community Centre access improvements. These plans included the creation of a Memorial precinct within the Station Gardens in the form of a paved plaza, with informal park facilities and a contemporary parkland character throughout. See 2016 Concept Plan below.

Flyer 1 Small

Flyer 2 Small

Have Your Say 2016 - Beecroft Village Gardens and Carpark Flyer - 3.2MB

The consultation included engagement with key stakeholder groups and local shopkeepers and information days that were held on site, where community views were sought. In total 53 submissions were received.

One outcome of this engagement was that the contemporary style of the draft landscape design was opposed by some and that heritage-style outcomes would be considered to be more appropriate.

It was also made apparent that the vehicle access improvements were a controversial item for some.

REF Exhibition

In July 2017, a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was exhibited, with revised plans for the Station Gardens and Community Centre works, responding to community representations and submissions made in the earlier consultation.

Key features of the revisions included:

  • Simplifying the design and reducing the extent of hardscape and creating larger open grass areas that could be used for hosting events;
  • Utilising stone and brick materials for walls and pavements, selecting furniture and planting that will provide a more traditional character (non-contemporary design);
  • Extensive planting works involving the removal of over-mature trees and renewal of garden areas; and
  • Incorporating universal access to the main entry of the Community Centre from the proposed vehicle area.

Review of Environmental Factors - 4 July 2017 - Beecroft Station Gardens and Community Centre Carpark - 4.4MB

Response to REF Exhibition

Council received eighteen written responses to these proposals with the carpark component of the works the dominant issue. Fourteen submissions were opposed to or uncertain about the carpark proposals. Five submissions were in support of the access improvements. Those in support included the submissions of the Community Centre user groups and a small number of residents. Three submissions objected to the inclusion of a ping pong table in the Station Gardens and three objected to use of non-traditional colours and furnishings.

Opposition to the access improvements were driven by a general dislike of the proposal to allow cars into the park, along with concerns about safety and traffic implications.

All submissions except one either supported or passed no comment on the Beecroft Station Gardens upgrade proposals.  

In response to these submissions, further changes were made to reduce the area of the car park which included the deletion of a parking bay and an increase in landscape area around the carpark. This also allowed space for additional trees to be planted.

Engaging a Contractor to Commence Works

In December 2017 Council accepted a Tender for the construction of the project. Regal Innovations Pty Ltd were awarded the works and commenced on site in February 2018.

For further inquiries, please call Landscape Architect, James Frawley on 9847 6854.