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?