This long-awaited rejuvenation project by Mooroolbark Traders & Community Group is set to breathe new life into the laneway between The Clipper Club and Golden Pastry Bakery (known locally as Manna Lane, after the cafe) at 79-81 Brice Avenue.
What can you expect?
How?
Mooroolbark Traders & Community Group (MTCG) secured funding from a Living Local Suburban Grant from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, along with a significant contribution from the landowners via Tideways Owners Corporation.
This is privately owned land, and community input was actively sought to reflect local needs, foster a sense of shared space, and belonging. Mooroolbark Traders & Community Group included community consultation in the planning phase, to design a space that everyone would love!
Consultation
The following graphs are taken from the online and physical community consultations conducted in May/June 2023.
Interestingly, recurrent themes were recognised from consultations undertaken by MTCG in 2019 (for the Mooroolbark Street Art project) and in 2022 when the community were consulted on their perceptions of the Mooroolbark activity centre.
Priorities are clearly seating, shade, nature/natural materials and colourful/bright. By keeping a fairly open plan, we can also allow for enjoyment of pop-up activations such as buskers, another top priority by community.
Community Use Responses
Community Landscaping Responses
Project Parameters, Challenges & Considerations
To achieve funding objectives:
• The creation of a vibrant community space to encourage the local community to spend more time in their local precinct, connecting with each other.
To meet the landholder brief:
• Products to be chosen for zero/lowest maintenance requirements.
Budget limitations and price increases
Manufacturing/supply shortages
Funding deadlines/obligations
Installation to minimise impact on business operations as much as possible
Ensure accessibility in design is maintained at existing status or improved wherever possible
Minimise/mitigate existing trip hazard of multi-levelled space
Note: Initial plans prioritised leveling the area as a key objective. However, this had to be abandoned following consultation with numerous contractors and professionals due to the cost and complexities of the job, and our limited budget.
How the community input influenced the design
Community use top 5 preferences:
1. To sit and eat during my lunch break
2. To have a rest while shopping
3. To enjoy hearing buskers/live music or other street performers
4. For my community group to host a pop-up stall
5. As a safe space to stop with my preschool-age children
The Design response:
Bench seating will be used to “frame” the sunken space in the middle, leaving the centre open for pop-up activations. By backing the seating against the existing kerb we can mitigate tripping hazards.
Leaving the central space open will also enable local community groups to hold a mini-stall in the space, and for small children to play safely while parents enjoy the cafes or take a break.
Community landscaping/materials top 4 preferences:
1. Green spaces – plants, trees
2. Shade
3. Colourful and bright
4. Natural materials – rocks, wood
The Design response:
While unable to use natural timber due to the owner requirement for zero/low maintenance, composite timber seating is a great substitute and is long-lasting.
Due to the strong emphasis on including greenery, we were able to advocate for a small amount to be included. These will be low-maintenance varieties in round planter boxes, with a preference for local, native plants.
Resurfacing the pavement will be done with a simple but brightly coloured design, influenced by the natural water flow that previously passed through the area.
Two additional shade sails will be installed to match the black shade sail outside Manna Lane cafe, providing shelter from the hot sun in Summer and some relief from rain. Beneath these, festoon lighting will add atmosphere and increase public safety.
What’s next?
The MTCG are working closely with the Traders located in the laneway to ensure as minimal disruption as possible. Facade cleaning has begun. Images of the design will be added to this post shortly, so stay tuned! We will notify the community of updates on this page via our social media.