Batesford Reserve Youth and Community Hub

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COMMUNITY UPDATE

Answering Some of Your Questions from the Information Sessions

Welcome to the first COMMUNITY UPDATE for the Batesford Reserve Youth and Community Hub Project.

This exciting project is a partnership between Monash City Council, the Federal and State Governments, Neighbourhood Renewal, Neighbourhood Houses and community groups and agencies.

Batesford Reserve Youth and Community Hub

For further information about the Hub project or anything contained in this Update, contact Fee Harrison, Manager Community Planning & Development at Monash City Council on 9518 3526 or email fee@monash.vic.gov.au

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Community Information Sessions

Thanks to everyone who attended the Community Information Sessions for the Hub project at Jordanville Community Centre on August 13 and 16, 2009.

The Thursday session was very busy with about 70 residents attending to view the design plans, talk to council staff, ask questions, provide feedback and meet some of the community groups and services that will be housed in the Hub.

The Sunday session, which was hampered by poor weather, still attracted interested residents wanting to learn more about the project and meet the community groups.

Feedback Positive

At these sessions, residents were encouraged to leave comments and suggestions for the project.

The feedback received across the two sessions was positive and constructive. All feedback will be reviewed by Council Officers to see if some of the suggestions can be incorporated into the project. Examples of some of the comments included:

"The hub is an excellent idea... and will bring the community together and enhance our lives."
"The different services to be offered at the Hub are a very interesting and promising concept."
"It will be fantastic for local youth like myself."

Council, Government And Community Groups Join Together For Information Sessions

The following groups were represented at the Hub Project Community Information Sessions:
Monash Council, MonashLink Community Health Service, Ashburton, Ashwood and Chadstone Neighbourhood Renewal, State Government representatives including MP Bob Stensholt, Monash Youth and Family Services (MYFS), Amaroo Neighbourhood Centre and Power Neighbourhood House, Ashburton, Ashwood Chadstone Public Tenants Group, Gateway LLEN and U3A Waverley.

The Hub Project is proudly supported by:
Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan

Questions and Answers

Here are answers to some of the questions raised at the community information sessions.

Q: We would like to see a Café at the Hub. Can this happen?

There has been a suggestion for a Café at the Hub and while this idea is a good one, unfortunately it cannot be achieved within the current federal funding scope and timeframe for the project. The Café is something that will be explored (in terms of viability and funding) in the future.

Q: Will the Hub be "Eco-friendly"?

The Hub design will be environmentally sound, user friendly, accessible and sensitive to Batesford Reserve's landscape. The building will use environmentally friendly materials and systems. Solutions being explored include:

Inside: Energy efficient gas heating with a tempered air system; Natural ventilation and cooling; Automated high level windows and other windows that open and close; Under floor cool air inlet ventilation; Energy efficient lighting; Photo voltaic panels for solar energy; and Ergonomic furniture that creates a relaxing and professional working environment.
Outside: Improved landscaping, access, lighting and walkways within the reserve; Drought tolerant landscaping and courtyards designed to catch the winter sun and provide shade in summer; and 100% of roof runoff (rainwater) will be used to flush toilets and for garden irrigation.

Q: Will the Hub be accessible?

Council and the community groups and agencies to be housed at the Hub are working hard to ensure it is accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

The new Hub will have:

Wide doors and corridors, plus a lift inside the building to help people access both levels.
Accessible toilet and bathroom facilities, and accessible front reception counter.
A "drop off zone" for people who need to access as close as possible to front door.
Improved pathways and pathway gradients leading to the Hub.
Shared walking and bicycle paths and provision for bike parking.
More disabled car parking bays within the existing carparks.
Options explored for the Hub to be a designated scooter re-charge site.

Q: What consultation has there been so far?

Monash Council has been actively researching, planning and consulting with community groups, community leaders, Neighbourhood Renewal and local service providers for more than 12 months.

In particular a community advisory group meets every two weeks to discuss, comment and review the project. This group comprises representatives of all community user groups and services and the State Government. Council has also met "one on one" with these groups (on many occasions) as well as with community leaders and interested residents.

There has also been wide promotion of the Hub project in the Council Bulletin and website, local papers, and via a letter from the Mayor and flier to local households.

Q: Will traffic increase because of the Hub?

Batesford Road currently carries about 7000 vehicles per day and Power Avenue around 3000 vehicles per day. Existing traffic volumes on these roads are unlikely to be greatly affected by the opening of the Community Hub with around 30 extra vehicles in the morning and afternoon peak hours.

Most of the Hub traffic is expected to arrive during normal business hours, and is unlikely to affect the existing after-hours basketball activity.

Q: Will there be lighting around the Hub to discourage people hanging around at night?

Yes. The Hub project involves improved lighting throughout the entire Reserve.

Q: Can other community groups use the Hub – not just the ones permanently there?

Yes, when the Hub is fully operational, any resident or community group can book available meeting spaces.

Q: Why can't the Hub be connected to the Sports Pavilion instead of having a 6 metre space in between?

Due to mandatory fire safety requirements of the Building Code of Australia, it would cost substantially more to connect the two buildings.

There would also be a huge disruption to the basketball stadium requiring clubs and competition to be relocated for a lengthy period of time.

Given this, Council believes the most cost effective and practical option is to have the Hub as a separate building. As the distance between the buildings (as currently designed) exceeds the required 6 metres minimum, the area is seen as an ideal opportunity to enhance the building's surrounding landscape.

For further information contact Fee Harrison, Manager Community Planning and Development at Monash City Council on 9518 3526 or email fee@monash.vic.gov.au

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Updated: 11 September 2009

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