Councillorswill be presented with the initial concept/spatial plans for the MacquarieRiver North and South precincts on Thursday morning (1 September 2022) duringan information workshop facilitated by Sala4D, consultants with experience ofseven years in managing engagement projects of a similar nature.
Communityconsultation on initial spatial plans for the Macquarie River North and Southprecincts will commence with an early morning briefing to Councillors givingthem their first opportunity to see any initial plans. Public communityengagement activities will commence only hours afterwards.
Mayor ofDubbo Regional Council (DRC) Mathew Dickerson said these initial concepts willhelp inform the first draft master plan for the precincts. “These conceptplans will be high level to enable everyone in the community to view a mix ofoptions and provide needed input to set the direction of the master plan beforeany detailed design work commences.”
Mr Dickersonsaid that seeking feedback on these concepts was another important step inensuring that ideas and viewpoints from a range of different community membersfor both the North and South precincts are able to be considered. “Followingtargeted stakeholder engagement sessions in June, Sala4D has developed thespatial plans which is a standard early step in any community led designprocess. From here the whole community will be able to comment on the proposedoptions and provide valuable feedback before any master plan design workcommences.”
Threeconcepts for the North and South precincts will be publicly available and the communitywill have multiple opportunities to contribute over a three-week period. “Iencourage the community to provide their views at this conceptual stage of thedesign process and again in future months as we move through to publicexhibition of draft designs and final designs,” said Mr Dickerson.
The masterplanning project extends from the Nita McGrath netball precinct to Devil’s Holeat the northern end and from the Lady Cutler Ovals to Shibble Bridge at thesouthern end. Sala4D Landscape Architects has been working on spatial conceptsfor the river corridor precincts, informed by previous master plans, the communitystrategic plan, Open Space Master Plan 2018 and initial ideas and insightsgathered from a range of community and interest groups.
ShahreenAlford from Sala4D said the community participation has been very valuable sofar. “We have worked with a wide variety of key stakeholders that use the areasto establish the current and future needs and wants for the precincts. Thestakeholders have included a range of environmental groups, community groupsand sporting groups and associations. From these stakeholder workshops wehave developed 3 options each for the North and South Precincts that we willnow use to engage with the broader community.”
Thecommunity will have the following opportunities to participate:
Two open information sessions and a popup shop on Thursday 1 Septemberfacilitated by Sala4D Landscape Architects:
Session 1 from 9.30-10.30am, Victoria Park No.1 Clubhouse
Session 2 from 6.00-7.00pm, Victoria Park No.1 Clubhouse
Pop up shop at the Macquarie Street Dubbo, Rotunda from 11.00am-1.30pm
Community BBQ Saturday3 September
– Regand Park barbeque area from 10.00am-12.00pm
Community Design Workshops will be heldon Wednesday 21 September whichwill be split into two sessions:
Workshop 1 from 12.00-1.00pm (South Precinct) and1.00-2.00pm (North Precinct),Victoria Park No.1 Clubhouse
Workshop 2 from 5.30-6.30pm (South Precinct) and6.30-7.30pm (North Precinct),Victoria Park No.1 Clubhouse.
The onlinesurvey will also be posted on the Dubbo Regional Council website from 1 September 2022, and closes on Sunday18 September www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/macquarierivermasterplan
