General News
29 August, 2023
Green light for Timboon Precinct plan
TIMBOON residents will soon be asked how to shape the future of the township as part of the Timboon Precinct Plan (TPP).
TIMBOON residents will soon be asked how to shape the future of the township as part of the Timboon Precinct Plan (TPP).
At last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, councilors voted to move ahead with the beginning the plan at a cost of $80,000.
Any subsequent works or projects as a result of the plan would require further funding.
Shire manager planning and building services Aaron Moyne said the TPP would deliver an urban design and place-making framework on public land within the Timboon town centre, enhancing community and user amenity, facilitating infrastructure investment and tourism opportunities.
“The need to prepare the TPP arises from Positioning Simpson and Timboon 2020, Grow and Prosper Corangamite, the Timboon Community Plan, as well as broader community interest, to support the growth and enhancement of the public environment and co-ordinator of facilities and capital projects,” he said.
“Positioning Simpson and Timboon specifically establishes strategic directions to establish the town as a tourism hub of the coastal hinterland and undertake public realm improvements to support business investment, resident attraction and enhanced tourism outcomes.
“The TPP will provide a vision, direction and implement actions to enhance Timboon’s public environment to support business, encourage community use and attract greater cultural and tourism investment.”
Mr Moyne said the nature of public use and both facility and infrastructure needs within Timboon require a co-ordinated approach to be undertaken by council, land managers, community and business in delivering future capital works and improvements.
“Preparation of a precinct master plan is also a key component in realising future project funding and investment (public and private) which may arise to support upgrades, land use and development,” he said.
According to Mr Moyne, preparation of the TPP presents a “significant opportunity” for council to work directly with community, business, land managers and other stakeholders to establish a precinct master plan for the public environment in Timboon.
“The TPP will provide direction and actions to enhance Timboon public spaces and support existing business, community use and attract future tourism potential and investment,” he said.
“The TPP has arisen through strategic needs and is an essential project to co-ordinate and maximise future capital investment, projects and improvements in a manner of greatest benefit to community and to capitalise on funding and investment opportunities.”
Identified objectives of the project are:
• Consolidate and review previous work, consider new actions and recommendations, to enhance the qualities and attributes of the Timboon ‘town centre’ precinct;
• Effectively engage with stakeholders and the community;
• Provide a collective and aspirational vision and long-term planning framework for the precinct;
• Provide directions to capitalise on future tourism and commercial opportunities and public realm upgrades to enhance visitor experience;
• Provide an urban design framework which can be understood with clear recommendations and practical design outcomes; and
• Deliver a plan which implements the land use and urban design frameworks, with consideration to community benefit, public sector investment and tourism.
Councillors welcomed the start of the TPP.
Cr Kate Makin said Timboon was positioned in a strategically significant location between the Camperdown-Timboon Trail and 12 Apostles Trail.
“We need to capitalise on this,” she said.
“The public toilets have been identified as something that needs to be addressed.
“It (the plan) will help it all not be done in a mismatched way.
“We would love to have more activity and vibrancy within the town centre.”
Coastal Ward Cr Jamie Vogels said Timboon has “changed a lot in the last 20-30 years”.
“The precinct plan will give us a plan and vision to aim for,” he said.
“I think it’s timely that this gets done.
“It’s a great thing for Timboon to see it move forward.”
The proposed timeline for the project will see phase one – which includes consultation, visioning and analysis completed in September.
A design workshop in November/December will be held.
The draft plan and phase three consultation is expected in March 2024.