Inglewood Streetscape design work commences
Published on 08 July 2024
Loddon Shire Council has engaged Djaara enterprise DJANDAK for the Inglewood Streetscape’s urban landscape design and Tomkinson for the streetscape’s civil design.
The project aims to enhance the visual appeal, functionality, safety and cultural significance of the town’s streetscape.
The design will consider various elements, including kerb and channel improvements, footpaths, traffic calming, pedestrian safety enhancements, overall amenity improvement, greening initiatives and more.
Tomkinson is close to completing its work to survey existing conditions, including the location of services in Brooke Street and adjoining streets within the project scope.
Manager of the DJANDAK Design Team and leading senior Landscape Architect Claire Reynolds will be heading the landscape design component. She is joined by Landscape Architect Georgia Carroll.
Experienced designers at any scale and complexity, they have designed many regional streetscapes, including Meninya Street, Moama; Monash Drive, Swan Hill; Warrenheip Street, Buninyong; Kinglake streetscape; Cohuna CBD; Shepparton’s Railway Precinct Linkages, Maude Street bus interchange and Vaughan Street redevelopment; as well as Edward Street, Bendigo.
“We are really excited to have engaged an entity with such expertise who has proven, demonstrated success in contemporary urban design,” Loddon Shire Mayor Gavan Holt said.
“DJANDAK's expertise in streetscape design to balance the needs of pedestrians, traffic, residents and visitors will ensure a functional and positive outcome for community, businesses and visitors.
“We are looking forward to seeing the evolution of the streetscape design for Inglewood with prominent representation of Djaara cultural values and expression.”
The design comes after decades of advocacy to revitalise the streetscape, with the local community and Inglewood Development and Tourism Committee undertaking a significant amount of work on the project. This includes helping develop a concept master plan for the streetscape.
The design itself will recognise and balance the unique heritage of Inglewood, including its history with gold and eucalyptus, as well as the significance of First Nations, and proximity of the town to Kooyoora State Park.
It will concentrate on encouraging intuitive stopping for residents and visitors traveling in any direction, as well as accessibility improvements to enhance Inglewood’s retail and community experience.
The streetscape design and project will benefit from whole-of-community consultation with input from Djaara cultural knowledge holders as well as a community advisory group led by Inglewood Ward Councillor Wendy Murphy.
The community advisory group includes representatives from the Inglewood Development and Tourism Committee and Brooke Street retailers, as well as representatives from health, education and transport, Inglewood Town Hall Community Hub and Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House.
DJANDAK has a codesign model for their work and uses a ‘Wartaka’. Wartaka is Dja Dja Wurrung language for “Come together with purpose”. It is a group of Djaara Members that form an advisory group. The group will contribute advice on how to embed Djaara cultural values, cultural heritage and knowledge into project outcomes.