Department of Infrastructure
Train Stations as Creative Community Hubs
Glenyys RomanesManager Community RelationshipsPublic Transport Division
Location of presentation Day Month Year
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Department of Infrastructure
A Grass Roots Beginning
VicHealth – under their social inclusion and community well-being program, VicHealth supported a scoping paper on national and international best practice in improvements to station environments:
“well-designed space can make a positive contribution to the mental health and wellbeing of a community”
Steering Group – Arts Victoria, DHS(Neighbourhood Renewal), DVC,DoJ (Crime & Violence Prevention), DOI (Walking and Cycling and Public Transport Division), DVC Community Renewal and VicHealth as Chair. Recently joined by Connex, Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria, VicTrack and Municipal Association of Victoria.
CERES in Brunswick – an “Elders” group at CERES Environment Park wanted to take appropriate place-based local action and search for
“practical expressions of sustainability and point of pride”.
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Department of Infrastructure
Actions so far:
• Common Agenda Developed:
– create identity and sense of place and ownership around stations
through an increase of social and creative activity,
– transform into more attractive, vibrant and safer community spaces,
– reduce levels of crime,
– increase public transport use.
• ‘Creative’ Community Hubs – Agreement that arts and cultural
development activities may provide an appropriate vehicle for the
development of community hubs.
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Department of Infrastructure
Stations
• Stations Shortlisted –
Broadmeadows,
Craigieburn, Chelsea,
Hastings, Jordanville,
Laverton, Mooroolbark,
Noble Park, North Shore
Geelong, Seymour and
Sunshine.
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Department of Infrastructure
Local Government
• Conversations with Local Governments –
Discussions have begun with all the relevant
councils to consider the potential of stations for
involvement in this project and where the project
might fit within the Council Plan and community
development activities.
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Department of Infrastructure
Next phase:
• Selection of 3 Pilot Stations by the Steering
Group.
• A creative engagement process involving all
council and community stakeholders to explore
ideas and possibilities for the development of a
community hub at each of the pilot train stations.
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Department of Infrastructure
Sunshine
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Department of Infrastructure
Broadmeadows
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Department of Infrastructure
North Shore
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Department of Infrastructure
Other Programs, Other Agendas
• Connex & DOI – funding for community murals and other
activities to remove or combat graffiti. Connex are also
responsible for maintenance and upkeep of metro stations.
• Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria & DOI – funding for
beautification projects and involvement of volunteers to care
for stations and surrounds: Mentone, Violet Town,
Rosedale. Community artists to work with youth on murals
at six stations where graffiti is a problem.
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Department of Infrastructure
Other programs cont…
DOI – Station upgrades and Stations and Modal Interchanges Program.
DOI - Local Area and Access Program (LAAP) local infrastructure funding program coordinated
by the Walking and Cycling Branch.
VicTrack – responsible for maintenance
and upgrade of stations and tracks and
looking for commercial return on land not
required for public transport purposes.
Some significant heritage restorations at
stations such as Ballarat, Maryborough,
Werribee. VicTrack are keen to see a
range of initiatives to improve
environments around train stations.
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Department of Infrastructure
Questions?