Pakington North Community Panel - Session 2 Public Realm

THE CIT Y OF GREATER GEELONG

SESSION 2 PUBLIC REALM

PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL PAKINGTON NORTH URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK 10 FEBRUARY 2024

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY We Acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the Land, Waterways and Skies. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We Acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are part of our Greater Geelong community today.

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CONTENTS

01

The Session

04

Purpose Session Agenda How to prepare for the session?

02

Introduction

05

03

What we know

06

04

What we should consider

07

05

What we can explore

08

06

Appendix

12

Key information Maps Notes

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PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL SESSION 2

01

THE SESSION

Purpose 1.

To recap on session 1.

2.

To build participant knowledge on public realm focusing on challenges and opportunities via expert presentations and ‘deep dive’ discussions.

3.

To develop community recommendations for Public Realm, answering the following questions:

•

How do we improve our streets and public spaces?

•

How can we fit everything in/manage competing demand?

•

How can we provide additional open space?

•

How can we provide more planting, tree canopy cover etc.?

•

What is the ‘look and feel’ for this section of Pakington Street?

Session Agenda 12:10-12.30pm Participants arrive 12:30pm

Welcome

12:40pm

Group Activity

1:00pm

Presentation on

1:30pm

Q&A Session

1:50pm

Table based reflection and discussion

3:00pm

BREAK

3:15pm

Presentation on Heritage and Historical Character Considerations

3:45pm

Table based reflection and discussion

4:00pm

BREAK

4:10pm

Developing and voting on recommendations

5:30pm

End of Session 2

How to prepare for the session?

Reading this document The City has prepared this reading material to explore various topics and initiate an understanding of existing constraints and opportunities under the theme of “public realm”. This will also encourage a robust discussion during the panel sessions.

It is to be noted that the booklet only provides a broad basis for deliberation. Discussions may overlap between themes and at times may be explored in the subsequent booklets, while specifics for the topic will continue to be developed and refined in the panel sessions.

Come with an open mind We will start each session on time. Please arrive 20 minutes earlier to settle in if you can, have some food (catered for) and socialise. Please come with an open mind to learn, share and collaborate on ideas for the Pakington Street North Urban Design Framework (UDF).

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02

INTRODUCTION

Public Realm1 comprises spaces and places that are open and freely accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic or social conditions. These spaces can include streets, laneways and roads, parks, public plazas, waterways and foreshores. An inhabited and well maintained public realm feels safe and encourages people to use spaces.

In this session, we will explore Pakington Street, its streetscape, laneways, landscaping and open space opportunities. We know that people experience places through streets as they offer space for movement whilst facilitating a variety of uses and activities. Streets often represent the character of a specific place and have personal meaning to people whilst adapting to evolving needs of the community.

Public open spaces such as plazas, parks and reserves are as important as streets and are often managed and maintained by councils and other public agencies. Public spaces can also accommodate a diversity of activities and provide interest and amenity for the community.

Some critical factors for successful public spaces include location, relationship within adjacent buildings, physical access, access to sunlight and arrangement of activities within the space.

In this document, we will explain the context in which we are preparing the UDF pertaining to the public realm. The table below outlines project elements under this topic which can be directly influenced through the engagement process, and elements that cannot be influenced due to technical, statutory or regulatory reasons (e.g. State policy, planning scheme requirements and inter-related strategies and policies).

NEGOTIABLES

NON NEGOTIABLES

UDF ELEMENT

These have not been decided and can be influenced by panel

These have already been decided and can’t be influenced by panel

Street and public spaces

Opportunities to improve streets and public spaces.

Road safety requirements

Open Space

Opportunities to provide additional public open space.

Planting and tree canopy.

Opportunities to ‘green’ Pakington North through increased planting and tree canopy cover.

Traffic engineering requirements

Objectives of the Urban Forest Strategy

1. https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/guides-and-resources/guides/urban-design-guidelines-for-victoria/urban-structure/public-realm-structure

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PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL SESSION 2

NG STREET SPACE 03 WHAT WE KNOW BUTION

reet and Gordon Avenue play numerous Pakington Street in Pakington North Precinct the movement network and currently Pakington North Precinct lies between Church Street to the north and Warratah and Wellington e different transport modes within aStreet to the south. The Precinct has gradually transitioned from bikes 32 dth, which makes every on and tr restricted retail and officebit usesof to room that of retail 14% (v hospitality offerings. contested space'.

Generally, most of that & 30% tr section of Pakington Street a different cated toThis private vehicles, withhas wide lanes‘look’ peds and ‘feel’ to that of the Heritage Core Precinct (section 24% d little room for people.

stre park

of Pakington Street between Warratah and Wellington Street to the north and Gordon Avenue to the south). population in Geelong West continues Activities in this Precinct are generally around ‘purpose’ oriented withthese few opportunities linger. The must work to visits make streets to safer streetscape and the uses of buildings adjoining the street e to improve the walking and cycling limit the amount of activity that can spill out on to the nviting street. the local community to walk and

o' and recognising thatare not everyone invaried The building frontages discontinuous with building widths, levels ofwill activation the street and a and future communities haveto access number of crossovers cutting the footpath. The rail siding have the ability to drive or wish towith dofencing so. to the yard has the longest inactive frontage 20m rous Pakington Street in Pakington North Precinct Pakington Street in street for approximately 200m. providing a more balanced allocation of Footpaths make up around thirty per cent of The key elements this partpedestrians, of Pakington street include: ' that recognises allofusers; ic transport and drivers.

• Twopassengers vehicular lanes allowing traffic to travel boththe space. Street trees, power poles, signage, 32% bus shelters and bikesdining, directions. street furniture, outdoor on traffic • On street parking facilities to both sides of the pedestrians compete 14% (vehicles for usage of this space.

f that anes • •

street.

& public

30% Narrow, on road, unprotected bike lanes to bothExisting on-road bike lanes transport) are narrow, not clearly peds directions.

24% vehicles and moving visible and sit between parked street Inconsistent street tree canopy. traffic. There is limited bicycle parking provided.

• Average footpath width of 2.8m, limiting its use for es footpath focussed outdoor activation. er • Predominantly asphalt paving with some areas of bricks. g • Above ground power lines and limited street and furniture and signage. e in ess STREET o so.& GORDON AVENUE UDF – EXISTING CONDITIONS 20m of Footpaths make up around thirty per cent of ns, the space. Street trees, power poles, signage, street furniture, outdoor dining, bus shelters and pedestrians compete for usage of this space.

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parking

Over half of the sp vehicles, though tr shared with buses

04

WHAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER

Pakington Street in Heritage Core Precinct

2%

We must consider and implement existing policies and strategies. We cannot influence policies that have been adopted and must ensure alignment.

vehicles & public ransport)

URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR VICTORIA, 2017

raffic

%

Urban design guidelines for Victoria

eet king

Developed by State Government, these guidelines seek to deliver functional and enjoyable places for people to live work and spend leisure time. The guidelines are based on the Urban Design Charter for Victoria.

32% 14% traffic (vehicles

bikes

30% INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN GENERATION SOCIAL transport) peds & ONE: street 2020-2023, 2020 & public

trading

24%

street OUR COMMUNITY PLACES, SPACES parking AND SERVICES A SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PL AN FOR THE CIT Y OF GREATER GEELONG

GENERATION ONE: 2020 - 2023 JUNE 2020

Outlines the needs of the community, investment priorities and implementation directives. It includes recommendations for improving equity, accessibility, integration, operation, maintenance, use and experience of the City’s social infrastructure.

CITY OF GREATER GEELONG | OUR COMMUNITY PLACES, SPACES AND SERVICES – GENERATION ONE 2020 - 2023 | JUNE 2020

The guidelines will be used to inform strategic investment in community infrastructure and public realm assets, and also to develop area specific policies 20m and frameworks.

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY 2015-2025, 2016

The Precinct sits within Planning Area 10 which includes Geelong West, Manifold Heights and Newtown. A number of amenities including a community hub and provision of open spaces play areas and arts and culture spaces need to be investigated.

Over half of the space allocated to private Seeks to is enhance and protect the andlanes privateand tree population vehicles, though public traffic street parkingCONNECTING are PEOPLE, PLACE & ENVIRONMENT, and vegetation across all of Greater PUBLIC ARTS STRATEGY 2024 shared with buses running along route 22.

CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY 2015 – 2025

Geelong to 25% canopy cover.

WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

CITY OF GREATER GEELONG URBAN FOREST STRATEGY

1

The UDF will seek to integrate landscape into developments as much as possible and deliver on the 25% canopy cover targets within the public realm.

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2020-2030, 2020 THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 2020–30

Aims to engage and inspire artists and diverse audiences to encourage meaningful and lively celebration of the City’s, whilst honouring its cultural heritage, defining the City’s identity now and into the future.

The purpose of the strategy is to protect and improve the region’s environment and reduce environmental footprint.

connecting people, place & environment A PUBLIC ART STRATEGY FOR THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

The UDF will need to consider the role of art in urban design, place making and spatial activation as we know it has community benefits of increased public safety; an improved sense of community connection, ownership and care for the civic environment; community confidence; and increased levels of use resulting in greater passive surveillance of public facilities.

Key goals such as mitigation of urban heat island effect, greening of community spaces, provision of opportunities for active transport, nature play and utilisation of climate resilient flora species will influence the delivery of the UDF.

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PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL SESSION 2

05 WHAT WE CAN EXPLORE In this session, we will explore future aspirations for Pakington Street in the lens of ‘public realm’. Keeping in mind that the street should continue to support multiple functions and consider amenity, safety and security for all road users, especially for pedestrians, while also ensuring through movement of private cars, public transport and cycling.

Interface Quality and Street Activation Uses in and the design of the ground level of the building plays an important role in street activation. For example, the section of Pakington Street in the Heritage Core Precinct has a highly ‘transparent’ built environment,ie, shopfronts, doors and windows, that provides for a diverse, interesting and vibrant environment. Activation of the street is particularly enabled by the visual connection between public and private interfaces.

Bus shelter on Pakington Street towards Church Street

Pakington North Precinct lacks the same level of opportunities for engagement with the street, owing to more blank walls, lack of visual permeability or transparent elements at the ground level and uses that require large expanses of street frontage. This not only impacts interaction but also reduces perceived safety as it does not provide for passive surveillance of the street.

The homogeneity of the streetscape reduces the quality of the street furthermore.

What uses can the ground level of buildings have to ensure that the street remains active even after hours?

Inactive frontages owing to recessed entry and car parking frontage

Role of Pakington Street North Different sections of Pakington Street play different roles from being a connector street to that of an activity street.

Currently, the northern part of Pakington Street is used as a quick ‘stop and go’, owing to homogeneous typologies of retail offering as well as street design. The street not only assist movement of people and goods within the municipality, but is also of neighbourhood significance.

What parts of Pakington Street are different? How do we want to use the street? Should the street continue to be a key movement corridor or should we consider places to pause, play and linger?

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Pakington Street has several east-west connections, ie, residential streets feeding into it. Considering that Pakington Street is a commercial spine we should explore its transition to adjoining residential streets in terms of streetscape.

How should Pakington Street transition with respect to streetscape to its connecting residential streets?

Landscaping and Amenity This section of Pakington Street has an inconsistent planting regime and features. We know that one of the key qualities of the Heritage Core Precinct that everybody loves and values is its green leafy environment. Aligning with Geelong’s Urban Forest Strategy, this part of Pakington Street has opportunities to deliver on canopy tree planting that contributes to pedestrian shade and shelter, comfort levels, improved air quality, decreased urban heat island effect and improve the overall ‘look’ and ‘feel’ of the street.

Although seemingly small elements of the street, assets such as seating, bins, bike hoops, paving, bus shelter, public art are other tools that can improve the street.

What are the amenities required for a “great street”?

How can we provide for it in Pakington North Precinct?

What should the ‘look’ and ‘feel’ of the street be?

Heritage Buildings The Pakington North Precinct includes six identified heritage places (Session 1 handout, p10). Unlike the Pakington Commercial Heritage Area which has a historical character that extends continuously along both sides of the street, in Pakington North the heritage places occur as individual isolated buildings.

Thus it is not necessary for heritage conservation reasons to require development along the entire street to complement these isolated buildings, but it may be desirable to conserve the street address and visibility of these buildings and important aspects of their setting.

Should we provide controls upon development adjoining heritage buildings to ensure their design complements the key historical attributes of the heritage buildings?

Street environment within the Heritage Core Precinct (south of Warratah and Wellington Street)

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PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL SESSION 2

Historical Character elements Beyond the listed heritage overlay buildings, there may be a number of historical landscape elements that may contribute to the character of the Pakington Precinct.

These include:

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Street tree plantings,

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Bluestone kerb and guttering, pavements;

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Street furniture and signage,

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Verandahs along streetfronts;

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Street tree plantings,

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Bluestone kerb and guttering, pavements;

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Street furniture and signage;

•

Artworks or monuments.

Are there any elements that stand out in your mind, that should be retained or expanded upon?

Access to Sunlight Sunshine is fundamental to people’s health, wellbeing, comfort and enjoyment of public space. Insufficient access to sunlight can result in detrimental impacts on physical and mental health.

As Pakington North Precinct grows, it is important to have building controls to protect sunlight to public open spaces including streets and parks. It is challenging to ensure maximum sunlight access to parks and particularly footpaths while allowing for reasonable development to occur close to it. However, it is pivotal that both competing aspects are considered and a well balanced approach to protection is applied.

How can we prioritise access to sunlight for all areas in Pakington North?

Various elements and aspects to consider for Pakington Street

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Creating more public open space Open spaces have traditionally provided areas for small and large scale community recreation and outdoor activity, both formal and informal. They include soft and green spaces as well as hard paved plazas with planting.

Pakington Street North Precinct has opportunities to deliver new open spaces and activities within it. It is important to also consider feasible locations to where these open spaces can be delivered (such as local parks within 400m walking distance of 95% of dwellings, urban parks within 200m for higher density residential area).

Below are some of the typologies to consider:

Mollison Park, West End, Queensland

Some parks may have a more urban setting with hardscape being a dominant feature whilst having trees and vegetation. They provides for a moment to pause and rest in an urban environment and are often located on key movement corridors adjoining commercial and retail uses.

Some others are often located in a more residential setting with softscape such as grass and canopy cover being a dominant feature. The open space provides for play and rest and could include play equipment, benches and other amenities for community gatherings.

Chelsea Street Playground, Sydney

Where can we locate new open spaces in Pakington North?

What should the character and function of each of the open spaces be?

Tullamore Gully Reserve, Doncaster

Horscroft Place, Moorabbin

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PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL SESSION 2

APPENDIX Key information Session Details We will start each session on time. Please arrive 20 minutes earlier to settle in if you can, have some food (catered for) and socialise. For meetings at Wurriki Nyal, please note that a sign-in will be required, make sure you have sufficient time to sign in. Doors will open 20 minutes before the official start of each session.

Access to private Have Your Say (HYS) page We have set up a Have Your Say Page for the Community Panel. This page can only be accessed by the Panel members and project team (City and Capire). You can find all relevant documents, key information and other details to assist with preparing for the Panel Sessions here. You can also ask questions to the project team or continue the discussion online with other Panel members.

In order to access the page you will need to be logged in to the HYS platform. We have set up an account using your first name and the initial of your surname as your username and the email address provided. If you already have an existing HYS account we have added your existing account to this page. If you can’t remember your password please reach out to engagement@geelongcity. vic.gov.au and we will reset it for you.

If you ask a question or make a comment on the page, only your username will appear (ie. no email address or full name).

SESSION Session 1 Setting the Scene and Understanding the Drivers for Change

Session 2 The Public Realm

Session 3a Built Form

Session 3b Built Form

Session 4 Access and Movement

Session 5 UDF Endorsement

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TIME

VENUE

Thursday, 8 February, 5.30-8.30pm

Geelong West Town Hall (153 Pakington Street, Geelong West)

Saturday 10 February, 12.30-5.30pm

Wurriki Nyal (137-149 Mercer St, Geelong)

Thursday, 29 February, 6.00-8.30pm

Geelong West Town Hall (153 Pakington Street, Geelong West)

Thursday, 7 March, 6.00-8.30pm

Wurriki Nyal (137-149 Mercer St, Geelong)

Saturday 16 March, 12.30-5.30pm

Wurriki Nyal (137-149 Mercer St, Geelong)

Thursday, 18 April, 6.00-8.00pm

Geelong West Town Hall (153 Pakington Street, Geelong West)

Please follow the steps below to login: 1.

Access the page using the QR code below or login via https://yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/ community panel

Project Team City of Greater Geelong Kate Shearer Acting Manager City Design Sabine Provily Coordinator Urban Design Shwiti Ravisankar Senior Urban Designer

2.

3.

A login screen will pop up. Use your email address and the password: communitypanel2024 . Click on the blue ‘log in’ button.

We recommend that you ‘favourite’ or ‘bookmark’ the hub - https://yoursay.geelongaustralia.com. au/community panel for easy access. To do this for Google Chrome users, click on the ‘star’ at the end of the search bar. A pop up box will appear. Name the bookmark and click on done. The Hub will then appear in your Bookmark bar.

Housekeeping After the final session you will receive remuneration as a thank you for the time and effort you have put in. The maximum amount will be $100, if you have missed a session you will receive a pro rata amount.

Gunali Ajgaonkar Urban Designer Felicity Bolitho Coordinator Community Engagement Erin McHugh Community Engagement Officer Capire Consulting Denise Francisco Senior Associate Charlotte Yu Consultant

Contact Information Email urbandesignandheritage@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Phone

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For dietary requirements and other session related enquiries, please contact: Kathleen Dinsmore on 03 5272 5007

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For enquires relating to access to the private HYS page, please contact: Erin McHugh on 03 5272 4211

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For enquiries relating to the project, please contact: Shwiti Ravisankar on 03 5272 5438

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PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL SESSION 2

Aerial Map

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Precinct Map

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Existing heritage buildings shown in brown hatched lines.

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PAKINGTON NORTH COMMUNITY PANEL SESSION 2

NOTES

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NOTES

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