About the Parkdale Open Space Advisory Panel

The Parkdale Open Space Advisory Panel is made up of local community members who will provide input into how Parkdale’s newest community open spaces will be developed. They will share their perspective to help us design a space that will be used by locals for generations to come.

Members will:

• contribute ideas and feedback on designs for the new community open spaces
• make sure a broad range of community perspectives are considered
• share project information and updates with the local community.

Panel members

• Alistair Bishop, Community Member
• Anika Warren-Smith, Community Member
• Anna Worsnop, Community Member
• John Hoggart, Community Member
• Jim Swinden, Community Member
• James Hardy, Community Member
• Keirath Singh, Community Member
• Martin Horan, Community Member
• Nola Baker, Community Member
• Paul Taranto, Rotary Club Mordialloc
• Paul Leitch, Community Member
• Ursula Soulsby, Community Member
• Shane Sheedy, Community Member
• [Undisclosed community member]

Executive summaries

Meeting Seven – 5 December 2023

Our seventh panel meeting was held in person on 5 December 2023, at the Mentone RSL. The meeting opened with welcomes, formalities and introductions.

There were 7 apologies for this meeting. Actions from the previous meeting were noted and resolved.

Design overview

The project team outlined the key aspects of the final design including the overhead rail design allows for increased open space, greenery and the linear park, including:

• better connection of east and west use including the shared use path, better integration for buses, secure bike parking and 6 pick up and drop off areas.
• new nautical design element with 3 lookout windows on the platform to provide view of Port Phillip Bay and maintain the connection between the station and the nearby beach
• Parkdale Station building was unable to be re-purposed due to fire damage, a stereoscopic viewing machine with photo of old station would be installed to help celebrate its history.

Other key features outlined included:

• Basketball court, playground and open-air gym
• Colour palette of rail bridge and pillars based on community feedback
• Pedestrian crossings and connectivity
• New passenger car park and upgraded parking on Como Parade West

After the main presentation, the group moved into a larger space to look at the project roll plot, discuss elements with the project team.

As a final activity, panel members were asked to note down how they were feeling as the POSAP concludes, and to leave any other final feedback for the project team.

As this was the final POSAP meeting the actions will be resolved via an email sent out to members in early 2024.

Meeting six – 10 October 2022

Our sixth panel meeting was held in person on 10 October. The meeting began by acknowledging the announcement of the additional 7 projects making the Frankston Line boom gate free, noting that it is still in the early planning stages.

The project team shared the updated designs noting key updates, and explained how POSAP’s vision and values as well as community feedback has been incorporated into the designs.

Panel members shared what they had heard from their local networks about the project, including broad sentiment, feedback and concerns.

Afterwards, panel members participated in an engagement activity, providing feedback on negotiable elements of the station precinct's design including:

• how the designs can highlight and integrate the history and character of the local area into the new station precinct.
• preferences on the colour treatment of the station’s viaduct screening.
• identifying key landmarks in the area for signage and recognition.

The panel members were asked to share their intimate knowledge of the Parkdale area and provide local insights, knowledge, and history in the activity.

The final POSAP meeting will be held early next year ahead of the start of construction and the establishment of the Construction Liaison Group.

Meeting five – 26 July 2022

Our fifth panel meeting was held in person on 26 July. This meeting welcomed local MP Tim Richardson, as well as representatives from Kingston City Council.

LXRP presented the panel with key findings from the early concept design feedback survey, noting how community feedback has helped shape the designs to date and what is still being considered in the design.

Panel members then participated in a number of interactive engagement activities, including:

• the best placement of sporting and recreational facilities in the new open space
• connections and links around the station precinct and open space, considering how locals travel around the area, traffic movements and pedestrian and cyclist safety
• what would be good and bad car parking outcomes for the project, with a discussion around how car parking is currently used in the area; commuter, trader and community parking needs; and achieving a balance between delivering a green corridor with trees and landscaping alongside appropriate numbers and placement of parks.

The next meeting will be held in late September/early October 2022.

Meeting four – 7 June 2022

Our fourth panel meeting was held in person for the first time on 7 June. Our principal architect and landscape architect for the project presented on the early concept designs, outlining the principles and thinking behind the design and how community feedback has been incorporated to date.

Panel members had the opportunity to ask questions about the designs, followed by a general discussion about the new station precinct and open space.

Topics discussed included:

• key features of the concept designs (e.g. location of new Parkdale Station, new village green to connect Como Parade East and West, central viaduct providing more green space on either side of rail line and minimising overshadowing)
• the integration of the new station precinct and open space with the surrounding area, including the Parkdale shopping village
• possible ways to further reflect Parkdale’s village feel and coastal character into the designs
• potential community facilities and other elements that might form part of the new open space and making the new open space both inviting and practical, so it is used by the community
• getting the balance of trader and commuter car parking right in and around the precinct.

Panel members also completed an activity outlining opportunities and challenges in designing the new open space.

The next meeting will be held in late July 2022.

Meeting three – 9 April 2022

For our third meeting, panel members toured recently completed level crossing removal projects at Carnegie, Rosanna and Moreland stations to view the elevated rail designs and open space created as part of the projects, including the new stations, new planting and landscaping and community facilities.

At each station, the project team spoke about the different designs and how each new station precinct had been designed for its local context. Key discussion points amongst panel members included:

• how each of the open spaces was working for the local communities and how creating an open space design that brings both sides of the community together will be important for Parkdale
• taking inspiration from other sites, including design elements that soften the elevated structure and planting and landscaping that complements the local area and project design
• how the open spaces were being actively being used by their local communities, for example walking and cycling paths, playgrounds and sporting recreational facilities
• design features, architectural aspects, different community spaces and artworks that had been incorporated into the designs, including local features and historical elements
• the variety of station design options and how each project has its own unique design.

The next meeting will be held in late May 2022.

Meeting two – 15 March 2022

The meeting opened with welcomes, formalities and introductions.

The panel members were asked to share what they had heard from their community networks over the past couple weeks, including general views, comments, questions or concerns.

The project team shared interim results from the Open Space Design survey, which showed strong support for new trees, plants, and landscaping, open grassed areas, and nature-based style play spaces. Community preferences for sporting facilities included a basketball half-court and an open-air gym, and for recreational facilities a public piazza/village square, community garden, and BBQ and picnic area. Key preferences for cultural elements in the open space were a heritage trail and children's garden.

The project team then presented further ideas and opportunities for the open space planting and landscaping, including the planting of native species (drawing on existing vegetation and Bradshaw Reserve), options for canopy trees, water sensitive design, and irrigation. Design limitations and challenges were also discussed.

Members of the panel were asked to encourage their networks to fill out the open space design survey as well as the planning submission survey before they closed on 21 March.

The next meeting is to be held in May 2022.

Meeting one – 22 February 2022

The meeting began with introductions and formalities, followed by information about the panel and its purpose.

The key objectives of the meeting were to introduce and build understanding of the project, the panel and its process.

The panel members provided information about themselves and their involvement in the local community. They also shared photos of the local area that hold value for them and spoke about what Parkdale means to them.

The project team presented key findings from the recent Parkdale Vision and Values survey. This was followed by a presentation and discussion about ideas and opportunities for the new open space, with a focus on the unique features and characteristics of Parkdale.

Project members answered questions confirming that:

• a consultation report outlining results from the Parkdale Visions and Values survey and Open Space design survey will be released in the coming months
• a separate trader engagement strategy is being developed
• impacts on trees and vegetation along the rail corridor are being assessed as part of a program of site investigations.

The next meeting will be held on 15 March 2022.