Train Stations as Creative Community Hubs

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Train Stations as Creative Community Hubs
Location of presentation
Day Month Year

• Glenyys Romanes
• Manager Community Relationships
• Public Transport Division

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A Grass Roots Beginning
CERES in Brunswick an Elders group at CERES
Environment Park wanted to take appropriate
place-based local action and search for
practical expressions of sustainability and
point of pride.
Steering Group Arts Victoria, DHS(Neighbourhood
Renewal), DVC,DoJ (Crime Violence Prevention),
DOI (Walking and Cycling and Public Transport
Division), DVC Community Renewal and VicHealth as
Chair. Recently joined by Connex, Keep Australia
Beautiful Victoria, VicTrack and Municipal
Association of Victoria.

• VicHealth under their social inclusion and
  community well-being program, VicHealth supported
  a scoping paper on national and international
  best practice in improvements to station
  environments
• well-designed space can make a positive
  contribution to the mental health and wellbeing
  of a community

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Actions so far

• Common Agenda Developed
• create identity and sense of place and ownership
  around stations through an increase of social and
  creative activity,
• transform into more attractive, vibrant and safer
  community spaces,
• reduce levels of crime,
• increase public transport use.
• Creative Community Hubs Agreement that arts
  and cultural development activities may provide
  an appropriate vehicle for the development of
  community hubs.

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Stations

• Stations Shortlisted Broadmeadows, Craigieburn,
  Chelsea, Hastings, Jordanville, Laverton,
  Mooroolbark, Noble Park, North Shore Geelong,
  Seymour and Sunshine.

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Local Government

• Conversations with Local Governments
  Discussions have begun with all the relevant
  councils to consider the potential of stations
  for involvement in this project and where the
  project might fit within the Council Plan and
  community development activities.

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Next phase

• Selection of 3 Pilot Stations by the Steering
  Group.
• A creative engagement process involving all
  council and community stakeholders to explore
  ideas and possibilities for the development of a
  community hub at each of the pilot train stations.

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Sunshine
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Broadmeadows
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North Shore
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Other Programs, Other Agendas

• Connex DOI funding for community murals and
  other activities to remove or combat graffiti.
  Connex are also responsible for maintenance and
  upkeep of metro stations.
• Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria DOI funding
  for beautification projects and involvement of
  volunteers to care for stations and surrounds
  Mentone, Violet Town, Rosedale. Community
  artists to work with youth on murals at six
  stations where graffiti is a problem.

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Other programs cont
VicTrack responsible for maintenance and
upgrade of stations and tracks and looking for
commercial return on land not required for public
transport purposes. Some significant heritage
restorations at stations such as Ballarat,
Maryborough, Werribee. VicTrack are keen to see
a range of initiatives to improve environments
around train stations.
DOI Station upgrades and Stations and Modal
Interchanges Program. DOI - Local Area and
Access Program (LAAP) local infrastructure
funding program coordinated by the Walking and
Cycling Branch.
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Questions?