Portland Foreshore Master Plan
The development of a Foreshore Masterplan will provide for the future direction of this wonderful and unique asset. The plan seeks to improve management, accessibility and introduce a recreational and tourism experience along the Portland Foreshore.
The Master plan is the overarching concept for the area between the Trawler Wharf and Nun’s beach. It also incorporates a number of important connected sub-elements and projects such as the replacement of the Town Jetty and the All Abilities Play Space concepts. The Portland Foreshore Master plan ties all these elements together in a cohesive and interconnected public space for the enjoyment of a range of public recreational activities.
Two rounds of community engagement and consultation have been carried out. With the final round of consultation closing in November 2017.
Community Engagement Outcomes
Public consultation plays a pivotal part of informing the Foreshore Master Plan and allows Council to further investigate funding opportunities to implement outcomes.
The initial community consultation process was completed in 2016. The consultation encouraged creative ideas and constructive discussion from a broad range of stakeholders, community groups and general community members of all ages and abilities. The methods used allowed for open responses, receiving a broad range of comments, ideas and suggestions.
Where to from here?
The feedback from the second public consultation session was presented to Council at the Ordinary Council Meeting in February 2018. At this meeting Council resolved to undertake some minor alterations to the concept plan based on the feedback provided and to finalise the design for the All Abilities Play Space to enable construction to commence in the 2018/2019 financial year should the funding application be successful.
Benefits of the project
The expected outcomes of completing the Foreshore Master plan include:
· Reinforcing local identity and civic pride.
· Enhancing the physical character of an area and help shape the design of future development.
· Improving physical and social inclusion, including accessibility.
· Providing connected routes between places for recreation, walking and cycling, and safer routes to community facilities.
· Providing play and recreation areas for children and young people.
· Providing an opportunity to include public art elements into planning and infrastructure design.
· Integration of public art elements.
· Boosting the economic potential of tourism, leisure and cultural activities.
· Attracting local employment and business.
· Attracting more people to the region by improving local amenity and liveability.
· Providing cultural, social, recreational, sporting and community facilities.
· Protecting and promoting understanding of the historical cultural and archaeological value of places.
· Contributing to the creation of healthy places.
· Providing popular outdoor educational facilities.
· Improving opportunities to enjoy contact with the natural world.
The redevelopment of the foreshore will enable a diverse array of uses for economic activity, including itinerant traders, markets and events that will encourage vitality and vibrancy, ensuring that the redeveloped space remains multifunctional.
