The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication project provides the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy that celebrates the local community and its heritage.

The project will create architectural, landscaping and creative design opportunities at South Geelong and Marshall stations, and the level crossing removal sites at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway.

We are committed to working with stakeholders and the community to ensure the project responds to and improves the local area.

The following key principles will guide the urban design outcomes for the project

Celebrate place and local identity- Local character and identity will be enhanced by integrating the design of the future stations and rail bridges with the surrounding urban and natural landscapes.

Improve access and movement- We will improve accessibility for everyone using South Geelong and Marshall stations, including commuters, pedestrians, cyclists and those with mobility aids by increasing accessibility and wayfinding around the station.

Support neighbourhood safety- Station designs will incorporate passive surveillance and improved lighting to support community safety. Removing the level crossings will boost safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists who use these intersections daily.

Promote high quality-built design- We are committed to delivering high quality architectural and landscape designs that reflect local character and leave a legacy long after the completion of the project.

Establish green connections- Green open spaces, shared user path connections and landscaped public areas will be established as part of the project to help support a more sustainable future and better connect communities.

Plan for the future- The new infrastructure will be carefully planned for the community and leave a positive legacy. Train stations are an important part of delivering liveable communities and the designs will consider the future growth of South Geelong, Marshall and surrounding areas.

Creative opportunities

Across our projects, artists and creative practitioners are commissioned to inspire positive community outcomes that are embedded in the delivery of projects.

There are proven benefits for embedding creative works as part of rail infrastructure projects.

They include:

• the creation of welcoming spaces and destinations for people and communities
• enhancing people’s experiences as they travel around the local area
• harnessing the energy, creativity and innovation of the creative sector, including local artists
• fostering community and cultural identity and the creation of positive civic legacy.

There will be several opportunities for creative outcomes across the project.

These could include:

• permanent public art
• creative architectural treatments
• interpretive design
• temporary art installations at site hoardings in key locations.

These opportunities will be guided by the Regional Rail Revival Creative Strategy which is committed to enhancing people’s experience of journey and place by working with regional artists and communities.

The Regional Rail Revival Creative Strategy is an opportunity to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of Victoria’s regional creative industries. As part of a commitment to delivering high quality projects, Regional Rail Revival has developed the Creative Strategy to provide guidance to project teams and delivery partners when commissioning creative works on regional projects. Learn more about our Creative Strategy.

The concept images for the station upgrades and level crossing removals give a sense of how the design might look. We will use community feedback and key design principles to develop creative treatments and enhance the surrounding landscape as part of the ongoing design development process for the project.

Case studies

Remembrance Drive Interchange Ballarat, Victoria

Asset owner: VicRoads

Completion date: 2017

Overview: The Remembrance Drive Interchange is a creative project engaging the local community of Ballarat with their wartime histories. Perforated dots are featured to represent the number of local soldiers who fought and lost their lives in WWI, and red design elements representing poppies in a mural-like manner. The theme of red is drawn throughout the precinct with crushed red brick mulch and red plants framing the bridge. It has created a powerful sense of place and drawn together the Ballarat community for events and commemorations.

Avon River Bridge Stratford, Victoria

Asset owner: VicTrack

Completion date: 2020

Overview: Acclaimed Gippsland artist Ray Thomas painted a mural on the new bridge wall, which features the Avon River as its theme, as chosen by Stratford locals last year. The mural honours the Brayakaulung clan and their connection to the Avon River and features Gunaikurnai ancestral totems and cultural practices including scarred canoe trees, stone grinding grooves and bush foods. The artwork was commissioned by Regional Rail Revival as part of the Gippsland Line Upgrade