kathleen syme centre - city of melbourne · 6.2. melbourne library strategic plan (2008-2018); 6.3....

F U T U R E M E L B O U R N E ( P E O P L E A N D C R E A T I V E C I T Y ) C O M M I T T E E R E P O R T

Agenda Item 5.12

KATHLEEN SYME CENTRE - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS

13 December 2011

Presenter: Ian Hicks, Manager Community Strengthening

Purpose and background

1. The purpose of this report is to seek endorsement of the community engagement process to identify the future use of the Kathleen Syme Centre as a community hub in Carlton.

Key issues

2. The Community Infrastructure Implementation Framework (CIIF) endorsed by Council in June 2010 (updated July 2011) contains a set of criteria and principles for the assessment of community infrastructure projects. It is proposed that these criteria and principles guide the redevelopment of the Kathleen Syme Centre. Some of the principles to be applied in this project include:

2.1. community hubs model - undertake developments of community infrastructure that encourages a multiplicity of uses, colocation of services and an integrated customer experience;

2.2. identified community services need (and aspirations) - that the development of any community infrastructure be based on a robust consideration and analysis of both the identified community need (normative need) and what the local community aspires to; and

2.3. accessibility - community hubs are developed in a manner that encourages universal access by the population it serves.

3. There has been significant research and community engagement undertaken to understand the community needs and infrastructure requirements in Carlton (refer Attachment 1, paragraph 5). The results of existing research and consultation are specifically outlined in the Carlton Community Infrastructure Plan 2007 and the CIIF Community Needs Analysis 2010.

4. In the context of the previous consultation that has occurred, a range of potential community hub models have been produced to initiate the community engagement process. It should be noted that these models are not mutually exclusive and that other permutations or models may emerge for Council consideration as a result of the community engagement and design processes (refer Attachment 2).

5. A Community Engagement Plan has been developed for the Kathleen Syme Centre redevelopment (refer Attachment 3 – Summary of Community Engagement Plan). The engagement process will:

5.1. present existing information, including the results of previous research and consultation;

5.2. involve the broader Carlton community, including specific demographic and language groups; and

5.3. include information sessions, public workshops, online engagement, and one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders, including community sector service providers.

6. It should also be noted that the Kathleen Syme Centre is a heritage building. As an older building, consideration will need to be given to the heritage and structural issues when deciding on future functions and services. The area to be considered includes the land and building as indicated in Attachment 4.

Recommendation from management

7. That the Future Melbourne Committee:

7.1. endorses the process outlined in the draft Community Engagement Plan: Kathleen Syme Centre;

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Attachments: 1. Supporting Attachment 2. Kathleen Syme Centre Redevelopment (Services and Models) 3. Kathleen Syme Centre Community Engagement Plan Summary 4. Kathleen Syme Centre Site Plan

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7.2. endorses the expenditure of an additional $135,000 for community engagement activities and investigation and preliminary design works to clarify structural and heritage issues; and

7.3. seeks a further report to the Future Melbourne Committee in May 2012 that outlines options for the future use of the Kathleen Syme Centre.

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SUPPORTING ATTACHMENT

Legal

1. There are no legal implications arising directly from the recommendation. Legal advice and support will be provided in relation to specific project proposals if required.

Finance

2. The estimated costs associated with the proposed process include:

2.1. Community engagement activities (including facilitating and coordinating information sessions, public workshops, online engagement, and communications materials): approximately $30,000-$35,000; and

2.2. Investigation and preliminary design works to clarify structural and heritage issues (including a Conservation Management Plan): approximately $100,000.

3. The costs of the community engagement process and associated investigation and preliminary design works were not budgeted for in the 2011-12 budget.

4. The expenditure for any future detailed design and building works will be the subject of future Capital Works budget processes.

Conflict of interest

5. No member of Council staff, or other person engaged under a contract, involved in advising on or preparing this report has declared a direct or indirect interest in relation to the matter of the report.

Stakeholder consultation

6. There has been significant research and community engagement undertaken to understand the community needs and infrastructure requirements in Carlton. Summaries of this information can be found in the following documents:

6.1. Carlton Community Infrastructure Plan Report (November 2006): a series of four focus groups and two consultation sessions were undertaken with the residents and service providers of Carlton to gain an understanding of the current usage, needs and aspirations for the future for services in the Carlton neighbourhood. The focus groups were aimed at young families, youth, adult males and older adults. One of the two consultation forums invited the general Carlton community and the other was held for service providers and stakeholders;

6.2. Melbourne Library Strategic Plan (2008-2018);

6.3. Carlton Community Plan (2010); and

6.4. Community Infrastructure Implementation Framework (revised June 2011).

7. In addition, a Carlton Community Centre Round Table was held on 10 August 2007, and specifically discussed the possibility of acquiring the KSC for a community centre. The round table was attended by the Local Member of Parliament, Councillors and Directors of City of Melbourne along with representatives from residents, traders and service provider groups.

Attachment 1Agenda Item 5.12

Future Melbourne Committee13 December 2011

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Relation to Council policy

8. The recommendation is consistent with the following policies and protocols:

8.1. Community Infrastructure Implementation Framework (endorsed June 2010, revised July 2011);

8.2. Community Engagement Framework (June 2010); and

8.3. The participation principles outlined in the Opportunities for Carlton Community Plan, signed by the Lord Mayor and Cr Kanis in September 2010.

Environmental sustainability

9. Environmental sustainability issues and opportunities will be considered in the concept design.

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Kathleen Syme Centre Redevelopment

Identified Service Priorities The Community Infrastructure Implementation Framework (CIIF) 2010 identified a series of service priorities for Carlton, which included (not ranked in priority order):

Aged and disability services

Accommodation and homelessness services*

Community health services

Community meeting space

Community office space

Community education, including neighbourhood house and learning functions.

Early years services, including child care and Maternal and Child Health services

Kindergarten

Library services

Site for a primary school*

Space for community art programs and artist studio space

Youth service delivery and youth-friendly public space

* Note: the Kathleen Syme Centre is not currently deemed appropriate for accommodation services or a primary school and therefore this ‘need’ is not currently addressed or considered in the proposed models.

Attachment 2 Agenda Item 5.12

Future Melbourne committee 13 December 2011

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Kathleen Syme Centre Redevelopment

Community hub models (to initiate community engagement only)

Model A: Health and Aged Services Hub

Model B: Children and Youth Services Hub

Model C: Library, Arts and Youth Hub

Model D: Lifelong Learning Hub

A community services facility occupied primarily by the City of Melbourne for the delivery of health and aged services.

A community services facility occupied jointly by the City of Melbourne and key community organisation(s) for the delivery of children and youth services.

A cultural facility occupied jointly by the Melbourne Library Service and key community organisation(s) in the areas of arts and youth programming..

A knowledge facility occupied primarily by the Melbourne Library service, combined with neighbourhood learning or community education programming.

Community health services Allied health consulting

space GP practitioner Counselling and support

services Services for the homeless

Aged and disability services Planned Activity Groups Senior Citizens space Community meals program

Community meeting rooms and office space.

Complementary commercial or social enterprise activities (eg: café).

Children’s services Kindergarten Playgroups

Youth services Youth support and

counselling services Youth service delivery Youth friendly public space Library service point Book / collection return Small ‘hot picks’ collection

(loans). Community meeting rooms and office space. Complementary commercial or social enterprise activities (eg: café).

Library functions Collection / book space Reading / Study spaces Computer facilities

Youth services Youth support and

counselling services Youth service delivery Youth-friendly public

space Community art programs and artist studio space

Community meeting and office space

Complementary commercial or social enterprise activities (eg: café).

Library functions Collection / book space Reading spaces Computer facilities Study spaces

Community education neighbourhood house

and learning functions Class rooms / Training

rooms Community meeting rooms and office space. Complementary commercial or social enterprise activities (eg: café).

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Officer Comment Model A: Health and Aged Services Hub

Model B: Children and Youth Services Hub

Model C: Library, Arts and Youth Hub

Model D: Lifelong Learning Hub

The detailed floor space requirements of community health functions required by a third party service provider are currently unknown.

The proposal would assume the relocation of Planned Activity Group from Council’s Canning St site.

The lack of access to required outdoor open space may limit this as a viable option. The current building would not provide the efficiencies necessary for a cost effective child care business model. It is also unlikely that State Government regulations pertaining to care for children could be met within this building. Child care therefore is not provided as a functional option in this model.

Carlton Family Resource Centre is already under development and will house the Maternal and Child health and family support services. This model does not assume any additional need for maternal and child health services as a result of the development of City North.

Load capacities of the existing (KSC) structure are unknown at present and may have implication for size of collection that could be housed as part of library

The floor space requirements of neighbourhood house functions required by a third party service provider are currently unknown.

This proposal would assume a library in Carlton approximately the size of East Melbourne Library1.

This option provides for a larger scale library space and function then Option C. Structural and heritage limitations will have implications for the space and functionality of the library. The current building has many smaller, enclosed spaces which is not ideal for library collection management, circulation and security. The load bearing capacity of this building that would allow for storage of a collection of the size required for a library of this scale will be tested. This proposal would assume a library in Carlton approximately 75 per cent the size of City Library2.

1 Note this is an approximate only and would require testing through detailed design. 2 Note this is an approximate only and would require testing through detailed design.

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Community Engagement and Communications Strategy

Summary

Community Engagement Plan

Kathleen Syme Centre December 2011

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT The following map shows the location of the Kathleen Syme Centre (KSC green 3) in relation to the Carlton suburb (Community Infrastructure Implementation Framework, 2010:16). There has been significant research and community engagement undertaken to understand the community needs and infrastructure requirements in Carlton. This information can be found in the following documents: Carlton Community Infrastructure Plan Report

(November 2006)

Community Infrastructure Implementation Framework (2011)

Melbourne Library Strategic Plan (2008-2018)

Carlton Community Plan (September 2010)

The Community Infrastructure Implementation Framework (2010:15) identifies the Kathleen Syme Centre as one of the five strategic opportunities for providing the services required for the Carlton Community. The strategic opportunities for the delivery of community infrastructure in Carlton are:

Potential for Health and Aged Services Hub at Carlton Housing Redevelopment site (Office of Housing).

Carlton Primary School potential site for Children and Family Services Hub.

Carlton Baths / Carlton Family Resource

Centre to be developed as an integrated service.

Provision of space within the Carlton United Breweries (CUB) development.

Redevelopment of the former Royal Women's Hospital site, in particular the Kathleen Syme Centre building.

The City of Melbourne has developed 4 models based on all the existing research and past community engagement. These models are the starting point of the future community engagement on the KSC and are not the only options to be considered.

Attachment 3Agenda Item 5.12

Future Melbourne Committee13 December 2011

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Community Engagement and Communications Strategy

PROJECT DECISION MAKERS Council is the final decision maker. The Project Control Group (PCG) provides final advice to the CEO and Councillors on

key strategic decisions for the group. The Project Working Group (PWG) considers and provides advice on operations, service

planning and design of the centre. The PWG membership changes as required by the project stages.

PROJECT GOALS This goals of the project are:

Develop Kathleen Syme Centre as a community hub that is responsive and accessible to the entire community of Carlton.

Enable the community’s participation in defining and developing a new community hub for Carlton.

Provide a community hub that supports both the community’s needs and aspirations for the building.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - STRATEGIC APPROACH The diagram below indicates the general stages for delivery of the Kathleen Syme project. A more detailed community engagement plan will be finalised that outlines the community engagement activities associated with each stage of the project.

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Attachm

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genda Item 5.12

Future Melbourne Com

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13 Decem

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