Civic makeover
Preparation of concepts and designs for further redevelopment of the Warragul Civic Precinct at an estimated cost of almost $7 million have been given the green light.
A broad scope of what a master plan for the precinct could include was presented to Baw Baw Shire Council’s meeting last Wednesday.
Council agreed to start “a process” to develop the plan including “active engagement” with the community.
Central Ward councillors Danny Goss and Joe Gauci enthusiastically moved the motion for the go ahead, mover Cr Goss saying “bring it on” and seconder Cr Gauci saying the project was a “no brainer”.
Cr Gauci said that in the eyes of most people “Warragul was still seen as the capital of West Gippsland and we need this (project) to be seen as a regional capital”.
Cr Goss said such a strategic area in Warragul can’t be let fall into disrepair”. Almost all other councillors who spoke to the motion were also enthusiastic.
The only cautionary note came from Cr Tricia Jones who said while what she also “celebrated” what has happened in Warragul (major civic projects such as the WGAC and the expansion and redevelopment of the Leisure Centre) council needed to also look at other areas.
A lot of money has been spent in Warragul at the expense of other towns in the shire, she said.
The report presented to council last week proposed the Civic Precinct master plan be implemented in two stages.
Funding of $80,000 towards the design of the plan is being carried over from last financial year’s budget while council’s recently adopted Long Term Infrastructure Plan allocated $250,000 for Stage One design work in the current year.
The LTIP estimates construction of the first stage, to be undertaken in the next two financial years, will cost $3 million.
Stage Two, with $100,000 identified for design work in 2025-2026, is also envisaged to cost $3 million when delivered between 2026 and 2028.
The scope of the Warragul Civic Precinct master plan will include, but not be limited to, a municipal library (council currently leases commercial premises for the town’s library); arts, gallery and additional theatre spaces; public toilets; community meeting places; council front of house customer and visitor service areas; council chambers, committee rooms and public gallery; office accommodation; integration of the Civic Precinct and Civic Park, an entry plaza to the area, additional car parking and increased options for walking and cycling.
The project would complement the $14 million West Gippsland Arts Centre redevelopment completed last year and a master plan adopted for Civic Park in 2017.
Speaking at last week’s meeting Cr Goss and Cr Jessica O’Donnell both raised the savings council would achieve by having a library in its own premises rather than leasing it.
Cr O’Donnell said a master plan would help put council in a position to apply for external funding.
Cr Goss, despite his overall enthusiasm for the proposal, said new council chambers were not something he was “fussed about” but described the overall concept for the precinct as “exciting”.
(Since work started on the WGAC redevelopment in 2017 the principal Baw Baw Shire office was relocated for the former Buln Buln Shire offices at Drouin and council meetings held at the former Narracan Shire chambers in Trafalgar).
Cr Darren Wallace said the precinct at Warragul would set up the shire to deliver civic services into the future; Peter Kostos said it would increase public use of the area including patronage at the WGAC, and Cr Michael Leaney, who pointed out that he regarded Walhalla where he lives as being in Central not West Gippsland, believed the precinct would be a community facility for the region well beyond Baw Baw shire.