'Our Towns' Sustainable Centres Program - … › documents › 40005057 › 41721593...Formal...
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Our Towns Sustainable Centres Program
KandangaNovember 2013
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Our Towns: Sustainable Centres Program - Kandanga
Introduction Gympie is a region of communities with a rich and vibrant history and, importantly, a future.
With the City of Gympie at its core, the network of rural and coastal communities provide important economic
support and employment to residents, and offer choice in lifestyle and residential living. There is pride in what has
been sustained in the communities, having faced difficulties in the last decade.
Nothing is taken for granted; and with an eye to the future, the Gympie Regional Council has embarked on a
program to improve the sustainability of the rural and coastal communities through streetscape and public space
beautification and improvement.
This is a summary of the report for the first stage of the OUR TOWNS – Sustainable Centres Program, focusing
on Kandanga prepared by METER. The full OUR TOWNS report (August 2013) also includes Kilkivan, which is
the subject of another summary document.
Methodology The Methodology was connected to the major themes of,
developing an understanding of the physical context and interrelations in Kandanga;
respect for local community pride; and
public engagement and ownership.
The stages to undertake the project were an Inception Stage, where team members familiarised themselves
with background and context information and conducted a “study tour”; a Site Analysis Stage; an Opportunity
and Issues Stage; Preliminary Strategies Sketchbook Stage; Draft Concepts Stage; Community Consultation
Stage; review and Feedback Stage; and Final Draft.
Location of Kandanga and its proximity to Gympie and to Kilkivan
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Community Consultation
Formal Community Survey Results Invitations delivered by mail to residents invited everyone to a “shopfront” in the main street of Kandanga. Held over four hours on a Saturday, plans and sketches displayed ideas, opportunities and draft recommendations. The morning was well attended throughout. Council and consultant representatives answered questions and guided attendees.
Formal survey forms were attached to the invitations, and a summary of the feedback results are pictured below.
Questions 1 and 2
Question 1 and 2 from Kandanga Survey
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Question 3
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Appraisal: Kandanga's Strengths and Weaknesses
Good Community Facilities (Pool, Tennis Courts, Park, Playing Field, Bowling): The town
is well serviced by an excellent range of community recreational amenities and has plans for
further development of new facilities.
RV site: The existing RV site appears to be successful and popular. Facilities are basic and
further improvement is likely to be of value.
Parking and circulation at the Post Office: Current parking arrangements are informal and
suit the casual character of the street. Some further organisation of parking however may assist
in ensuring improved outcomes for pedestrians, and provide opportunities for shade and street
trees.
ANZAC memorial: As an important part of the towns history and culture, the ANZAC memorial
occupies an important place in the story of the town. The site however has been impacted by
uncontrolled parking and vegetation regrowth, and would benefit from being re-established
visually and physically within its setting.
Top of Town: The crest of the hill outside the pub serves to limit the apparent activity of the
town. However the station and museum precinct on the lower levels is a key part of the town
experience and improvements to the linkage, both physically and visually, would be desirable.
The station precinct: The markets and Gympie Rattler are unique aspects of the towns
character.
Main Street: As the central spine of the Town, Main Street is compact and strongly defined by
topography and private garden vegetation. The sloping embankments on either side however
lead to difficulties of pedestrian movement and maintenance of edge areas such as lawns and
retaining walls. Attractive concrete step features are elements which reinforce the unique
character of this street.
Playing fields and lower areas: With flooding and drainage issues in mind the lower areas of
town are constrained in their development. However they provide an important recreation and
environmental amenity that provides opportunities for further enhancement and visitor access.
Community Pride: The community has traditionally been one which has been celebrated for the
strength of its cohesion and civic pride. Some challenges to this arose through the recent
changes of ownership of key sites. Planning should take advantage of a resurgence in
community pride and commitment to improvement.
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Difficulty of Access: The junction with Mary Valley Road provides easy access to the town.
Signage could be improved to indicate the attractions of the town to passing traffic. The Kann
Park information sign is a valuable location but could provide more detail given its location.
Overall signage would benefit from better coordination. The apparent high speed of some traffic
in town especially heavy vehicles and the need for safe crossing for pedestrians suggested
priority action in this area.
Creekside walk and planting: The attractive creekside environment is not easily accessed by
casual walkers and further enhancement could be investigated, acknowledging the difficulties of
the flooding regime in this area.
Opportunities for Kandanga a) Supporting social and economic growth
Opportunity for a mix of housing and new community facilities
Physical expansion of the Arts Community
Mary River Festival is an important focus for the community
Focus the town centre around Main Street
Come Out To Play program provides a platform for marketing the town
b) Reinforcing Community Pride
Opportunities to enhance Heritage interpretation
Maintenance of the roadside banks of Main Street need to be addressed
Community Events can display the art and environment concerns of the town
c) Physical Enhancement
Review event and RV facilities
Signage and interpretation could be added
Review Main Street footpaths
Improve town signage
Kann Park eroded edges addressed
Improve the surrounds of the ANZAC memorial
The Rattler is an important link to the wider tourism experience
d) Movement and Connections
New pedestrian crossings or refuges at the school and near the junction with Amamoor Road
Access with the town to the creek with pedestrian links and short trails
Pub road turning facility
Access between upper levels and Museum / station addressed
Some organisation of parking at the post office and vistors centre
Speed limit enforced
e) Environment and Landscape
Enhance the creek and lower flat area
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Recommendations Suggested Projects Shown opposite, the proposed actions for Kandanga include:
Pocket park, shade tree planting and terracing overlooking RV area Carparking outside post office and improvements to landscape works New pedestrian crossing or refuge outside post office Improved setting for Anzac memorial Improvements to landscape, lookout, interpretation and accessible
walkway to the lower station and museum areas Signage and interpretation (various)
Other Tasks
Investigate turning facility for buses etc on lower levels near Museum; Investigate structural issues associated with retaining wall under pub; Investigate detailed footpath accessibility and driveway
crossing levels along Main Street; Support community building events such as community
tree planting; Kandanga character photography artwork competition, drive-in movies on playing fields, etc
Contact Information
For further information on the OUR TOWNS: Sustainable Centres Program - Kandanga, please contact Council's Planning Strategy and Major Projects Branch on (07) 5481 0644 or alternatively email [email protected]