overport primary school landscape masterplan - about...

endorsed by School Council 29 October 2012

Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan

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Overport Primary School Landscape Masterplan 2012‐2017

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Endorsements

Endorsement by School Principal and School Council President

Name of Principal: Julie Gleeson

Principal’s Signature:

Date:

Name of School Council President: Brett White

School Council President’s signature:

Date:


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Introduction

Established in 1957, Overport Primary School is located on an attractive gently sloping site in

the City of Frankston, adjoining Frankston High School and opposite Delacombe Park . The

extensive school grounds incorporate an oval, synthetic grass soccer field, running track, half

tennis court, rebound ace basketball court, cricket pitch, three playgrounds and large open

areas with mature shade trees.

The school is in the process of completing a major building project which will see an almost

complete replacement of old buildings with new ones.

The Overport Primary School Landscape Master Plan directs the future development and

operation of the school grounds and enhances the ability of the school to grow as one of choice

for education, arts and environmental sustainability.

Background

During 2011 the Buildings and Grounds Sub‐Committee expressed a desire to improve the

landscape values of the school and to provide better opportunities for student learning

outcomes to be linked to these values.

It was agreed that the Sub‐Committee would deliver a Landscape Masterplan (The Plan) for the

school. A key part of this would be a full engagement process with the school community prior

to development of The Plan, in order to gather thoughts and ideas about the school landscape,

present and future. The resulting thoughts and ideas would form the basis of The Plan.

A Landscape Working Group was established, made up of members of the Buildings and

Grounds Sub‐Committee and an interested teacher, to deliver the engagement process and to

draft The Plan.

Teachers, students and parents provided their thoughts and ideas in a process which took place

during the third and fourth terms of 2011. The Landscape Working Group compiled this

information (Appendix 1), sorting it into themes which were then used to form the basis for The

Plan.


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Aims

To develop a 5 year plan for the landscape at Overport Primary School

To improve the school landscape as a place for learning, play and discovery

To identify and enhance links between the landscape and the core curriculum of the school

To contribute to the biodiversity values of the Frankston area

Site Values and Constraints

A number of important site values and constraints have been identified to help guide The Plan,

including:

existing tree canopy

proposed and existing building footprint

large open areas

proposed netball court, location yet to be determined

existing playgrounds and active recreation areas such as the oval, soccer pitch and

basketball court


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Themes

Seven key themes set the focus for the Overport Primary School landscape. They are:

1. Biodiversity Beds

Located along the western and northern boundaries, these visually appealing beds will

focus on recreating habitat for some of Frankston’s indigenous plants (see page 9), birds

and insects. Hands on interaction with the wonders of the local environment will be

greatly enhanced with the establishment of these beds.

2. Food Gardens

Located next to the oval and the senior playground, these gardens will include

vegetables, herbs and a composting area, as well as a substantial and diverse orchard.

They will provide numerous opportunities for learning and will be linked to activities

undertaken in the Towerhill Learning Centre (TLC) kitchen.

3. Japanese Garden

Providing a space for quiet contemplation and including water as a theme, this garden

will be located next to the new library and will enhance the Japanese program.

4. Gardens for Grades

Exploration, experimentation, involvement, creativity and fun are the drivers for

Gardens for Grades. These will be located in the heart of the school surrounded by

buildings and will provide opportunities for grades to develop and maintain their own

gardens along a theme of their making. The inclusion of artistic installations will be

encouraged.

5. Shade and Shelter

Enhancing the existing tree canopy to provide more shade and shelter will focus on the

following

Evergreens along the linear zone immediately east of the soccer pitch and

rebound wall, and next to the Administration Building

Deciduous trees along the northern side of all buildings, providing summer shade

and winter light consistent with sound energy conservation principles


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Open canopy evergreens at the entrance to the school, particularly in front of

the TLC and between Building 2 and the Hall

6. School Entrance and Building Surrounds

Existing landscaping at the front entrance to the school, including the Flowering Gum

canopy, paving and rock work, will be enhanced and extended to the TLC area and to

the surrounds of the new buildings. The goal is to create an attractive, inviting entry

precinct, using Australian native and indigenous plants, and to continue this theme to

discrete areas around the new school buildings.

7. Kick Catch and Run

Existing sporting areas will be enhanced with a new netball court, new four square

courts and a refurbishment of the school oval.


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Projects

Theme Project Timeframe Budget Leader

Biodiversity

Beds

Stage 1 (running track to Summit Rd

entrance) preparation and planting

2012‐2013 $2000 Bill Mallinson

Stage 1 bed protection (shade cloth) 2012 n/a Marie Yanni

Stage 2 (length of oval, north side)

preparation and planting

2014‐2015 $2000 Bill Mallinson

Food Gardens Vegie garden 2012‐2013 tbc Rachael Higgins

Orchard 2013 tbc Rachael Higgins

Watering system 2013 tbc Daniel Cole and

James Lorrimer

Japanese

Garden

Garden design 2013 tbc Tomoko and

Adrian Vitale

Hard landscaping and planting 2014 tbc Tomoko and

Adrian Vitale

Gardens for

Grades

Garden bed design and construction 2013 $1000 Marie Yanni

Shade and

Shelter

Rebound wall / soccer pitch (length of,

east side)

2012 $200 Rachael Higgins

Hall / TLC north side 2012 $1000 Bill Mallinson

Admin building (west side) 2013 $280 Bill Mallinson

School Entrance

and Building

Surrounds

School entrance / TLC 2012 $8000 Daniel Cole

Building surrounds (post construction) 2013 tbc Bill Mallinson

Kick Catch and

Run

4 square courts 2012 n/a John Hearn

Netball court (new) 2014 tbc John Hearn

School oval refurbishment (top dress /

repair holes / replace goal posts)

2014 tbc James Lorrimer


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Supporting Initiatives

Frankston Teachers Environment Network

Facilitated by Frankston City Council's Environment Department, the Network provides an

effective communication avenue between Council and schools and a valuable forum for

teachers to meet professionally.

Key features of the program include information and presentations on environmental resources and programs, professional development on environmental topics (composting and worm farming in schools, vegetable gardening, Resource Smart Schools, seed propagation) and tours of other schools to share achievements.

Resource Smart Schools

The ResourceSmart Schools Program consists of five modules which schools progress through

along their journey towards sustainability. The modules are Core, Energy, Waste, Water and

Biodiversity. Overport Primary has commenced the Core module of the program, with its Plant

Savers group playing an active role in sustainability at the school. The program is managed by

Sustainability Victoria and supported by the Department of Education and Early Childhood

Development (DEECD) and delivered by CERES Community Environment Park.


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Vegetation Plan

Species Selection

Species for use in the Biodiversity Beds, School Entrance and Building Surrounds have been

selected for their suitability to the soils and conditions at the site, visual appeal, ability to

attract local birds and insects, drought tolerance, availability, robustness and low maintenance

requirements.

Different combinations of these plants will be repeated to create a visual link between spaces

and a common theme throughout the school.

Acacia suaveolens (Sweet Wattle) Allocasuarina paradoxa (Dwarf

Sheoak)

Banksia marginata (Silver Banksia)

Bossiaea cinerea (Showy Bossiaea) Cassinia aculeata (Common

Cassinia)

Correa reflexa (Common Correa)


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Dianella revoluta (Black‐anther Flax‐

lily)

Eucalyptus scoparia (Wallangarra

White Gum)

Eucalyptus viminalis ssp pryoriana

(Coast Manna Gum)

Lepidosperma concavum (Sandhill

Sword‐sedge)

Leptospermum myrsinoides (Silky

Tea‐tree)

Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass)


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Appendices

Engagement and ideas development

overport primary school landscape masterplan - about...

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