West Wimmera Shire Hindmarsh Shire Yarriambiack Shire Buloke Shire

Yarriambiack Shire Buloke Shire Hindmarsh Shire

West Wimmera Shire The Wimmera Mallee Town & Tourism strategy acknowledges the Koori Aboriginal language groups as the Traditional Custodians for Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, Buloke and West Wimmera and surrounding Land and Waters.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present and emerging, recognising their continued spiritual relationship and responsibilities for Country. The Wimmera Mallee Town & Tourism strategy.

This Strategy also acknowledges and pays respect to Australian Indigenous Peoples who were separated from Clan and Country and also reside in Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, Buloke and West Wimmera and surrounding communities. May these journeys of healing be acknowledged, respected, supported and become mutual objectives for all Australians.

1. Introduction 3

Integrating Level 1: Regional Strategy 4

Yarriambiack Shire 5

Beulah - Town & Tourism Strategy 6,7,8

Brim Reddas Park Caravan Park Strategy 9,10

Hopetoun - Town & Tourism Strategy 11,12,13

Hopetoun Caravan Park Strategy 14,15

Cronomby Tanks Campground Strategy 16,17

Rupanyup - Town & Tourism Strategy 18,19,20

Minyip Caravan Park Strategy 21,22

Warracknabeal - Town & Tourism Strategy 23,24,25

Warracknabeal Caravan Park Strategy 26,27

Murtoa Caravan Park Strategy 28,29

2. Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

Local strategies proposed for locations across the region Town & Tourism Strategy Level 2 of this strategy responds to town and tourism park level opportunities, directions and learnings gathered through site visits and workshops. The Town & Tourism Strategy recommends projects to guide the revitalisation and tourism preparedness of 16 Towns and 24 Caravan Parks across four shires. These projects should be explored, prioritised, implemented and championed by the community, shires and Wimmera Mallee Tourism.

Projects at each location are generally ordered according to their priority of implementation, or their necessary chronological order. While some are ‘quick wins’, it is generally encouraged that rigorous concept planning, professional advice and community consultation is seeked out and undertaken prior to undertaking projects.

This report suggests indicative budgets (where possible) for each project at the town and tourism level. These are high level opinions of probable cost based on industry prices, and do not allow for community in kind input. As projects are developed, these budgets will be able to be further clarified.

Note that Regional Strategy icons are placed onto Town and Caravan Park maps to indicate where regionwide projects might be implemented on the ground. They are also associated with written project recommendations to indicate where they might align with - and inform - projects recommended locally.

3. Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

Regional Strategy Programs, Networks and Projects

The programs, networks and projects listed here form a set of recommended approaches across the region. These are relevant at a region wide level as they contribute to reinforcing the regional character of the visitor experience. Whilst being considered and discussed at a regional level, these icons will be used Self Contained Regional throughout Level 2 of the document to indicate where they could be implemented Accommodation Touring Routes Town Centre & Identity Liveability locally. Located on town and tourist park maps, as well as associated with specific recommendations, these icons suggest how regional level strategy can be woven through the Wimmera Mallee.

Town Centre Accommodation Where icons are found throughout Level 2, it may be useful to refer back to the Relationship with Town Cente Accommodation Network the project’s regional description to understand how the project might be applied Aboriginal community Meeting Places (Tour Groups) in specfic cases.

Materials Vacant Shopfront Electric Car Town Centre Palette Installations Charging Network Traffic Calming

Town Housing Open House/ Town Entry Committees Stock Garden Program Signage

Camping Tertiary design Universal Access Street Trees Opportunities school collaboration

Reliability and Barista availability Training of services

Dry Lake Attraction Google Maps Entries

Amenities Upgrade Competition

Requisite initial projects: These projects should be completed at the outset as they provide information and guidance that will influence the contribution of many other projects to the regionla character of the visitor experience.

Quick wins: Projects that are deemed relatively simple to implement - with low design, planning and consultation required in their implementation.

4. Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

The Yarriambiack Shire stretches from the Wimmera River just Natural Landscape north of the Grampians in the south, to the centre of the Mallee Patchewollock in the north. The Yarriambiack Creek is the main natural feature Yarriambiack Shire has an area of 7,158km2 and stretches from traversing the Shire. The area is also linked by road and rail the Wimmera River just north of the Grampians in the south, to the systems that run in a north-south direction. The area has an centre of Mallee country in the north. Much of the area has been Serviced Caravan Park almost ideal climate with a short winter and delightful autumn cleared for farming with the Shire being known as the heartland of and spring. Summer temperatures can be hot, particularly in Bush / Free Camp grain production and handling in the Wimmera/Mallee. The dry-land Sea Lake the north. Sunraysia Hwy farming area produces one quarter of Victoria’s total production of Cabins wheat and barley and is noted for the production of lambs and As of 2019, Yarriambiack Shire had a population of 6,639. wool. Legume and oilseed crops are very important and alternative Proposed Cabins Warracknabeal is the main service centre of the area, with a livestock enterprises are also well established. Much of this Proposed Route catchment pattern that extends from the northern Wimmera region receives additional supplies of water via the Wimmera Yarriambiack to the Southern Mallee. It is complemented by Hopetoun in Mallee Pipeline. Vegetation communities mostly consist of Green Lake Caravan Park Existing Silo Art Trail the north and Minyip, Murtoa and Rupanyup in the south, Eucalyptus leucoxylon occurs on the lighter transitional loamy soils, Shire Henty Hwy Proposed Silo Art Trail with another eleven small towns spread throughout the whereas E. largi lorens occurs on the heavier-textured soils at the municipality. boundary between the Wimmera and Mallee Regions. E. Hopetoun leucoxylon occurs in association with E. largi lorens, E. Woomelang Cronomby Tanks Of the population, almost half the workforce is employed melliodora, E. microcarpa and Allocasuarina luehmannii. in agriculture. Many other residents depend indirectly on Lake Albacutya farming, as they are employed in services used by the farming population. Buloke Calder Hwy The Shire is situated between the Grampians and Murray Shire Tourist Regions and provides a link between Horsham in Rainbow the south and Mildura in the northern end of that region. It Beulah is located immediately to the east of some of Victoria’s main eco-tourist attractions, including the Big Desert, Wyperfeld National Park, Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya and the Little Desert.

Hindmarsh Wy cheproof Enterprise and Innovation Hwy Henty Shire There are strong opportunities to develop new businesses through Jeparit attracting and supporting new service industries such as aged care and the digital economy. There is also a range of local produce West Wimmera Sunraysia Hwy which is starting to be recognised for food-based tourism including Warracknabeal Charlton restaurants and gourmet foods. This should be encouraged, Calder Hwy supported and promoted. Shire SOUTH AUSTRALIA - VICTORIA BORDER - VICTORIA AUSTRALIA SOUTH Nhill Relationship with Aboriginal Community Serviceton Kaniva Western Hwy Western Hwy Donald Building stronger relationships with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council and local family representatives will strengthen the tourism offering and add further to the settler and agricultural stories of the Alt. Route to Horsham via.Goroke towns and places in the Shire. Dimboola

Henty Hwy KEY

Serviced Caravan Park Rupanyup Bush/Free Camp Wimmera Hwy Cabins

Proposed Cabins Goroke Proposed Routes Wimmera Hwy ExistingLake CharlegrarkSilo Art Trail

Proposed Silo Art Trail Lake Ratzcastle 5.

Wimmera Hwy Apsley Newlands Lake

Alt Route to Melbourne via. Edenhope Edenhope and Harrow.

Opportunities across SA border Black Range Coonawarra Harrow State Park Wine Region Grampians National Park Dergholm Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

Town Strategy

Centre of the Barley Belt

The town of Beulah is at the heart of the Wimmera-Mallee region of north-west Victoria. It is situated on the Henty Highway, 395 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. The Henty Highway runs north-south through Western Victoria servicing numerous regional centres including Hamilton, Horsham, Warracknabeal and Mildura. Traditional Owners for the area are the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagik Nations. These Nations are represented by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

Beulah town was established on land that was part of Brim station. When the area was opened up for closer settlement many selectors came from the southern Wimmera district, including the McKenzie’s in 1882. The McKenzie land was subdivided in 1890 and the town was officially proclaimed in 1891. Presbyterians named the township after a place-name in the Bible (Isaiah 62: 4).The town is the centre of the barley belt and known for high standard dryland farming grain and wool production.

Beulah regional attractions include the Art Silo Trail. Beulah is located between Brim Silos, located 16 km south and Rosebery Silos 11km to the north. Seven kilometres to the south on the Henty Highway is the historic Netting Fence, constructed in 1885 to prevent wild dogs from the north and the spread of rabbits from the south. The fence is also the division between the Wimmera and the Mallee regions.

Yarriambiack Creek runs alongside the township providing a positive town environmental, recreation and visitor amenity. The introduction of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline and the construction of the creek weir has provided a permanent recreational water body. The creek foreshore includes a caravan park, walking tracks, picnic and camping areas.

The town is serviced by high a standard recreational reserve which includes football/cricket ground, swimming pool, netball and tennis courts, playground, camping facilities and bowls/croquet green.

Phillips Street is the town centre of Beulah. It is located west one block off the Henty Highway and includes a community owned and managed store, a pharmacy, the historic Beulah Town Hall and Free Library and the Victoria Hotel. The Beulah Visual Heritage Project includes Beulah Murals that depict the history of the town.

A recent fire burnt down the town’s general store and the NAB bank has recently closed. These losses were greatly felt within the community with a new grocery store proposed to be rebuilt diagonally across the Phillips and Gladstone Street intersection from where it once stood.

The community managed general store and the community artistic and sporting pursuits demonstrate a significant resolve about Beulah. There was a time when farming grain and sheep was profitable to Beulah as a service town. As transport improved the service centre for the area became Warracknabeal, 37 km south, and the service requirements in the town declined.

Today, Beulah offers an insight into many smaller Wimmera-mallee farming towns where the Australian vernacular architecture of historic verandah shop fronts lined a snug main street. Many of these shopfronts are closed in Beulah providing the air of a sleepy town and a reminder of a bygone era.

The town revitalisation strategy considers attracting stopover visitors and new residents by enhancing town amenity and wayfinding to promote the town’s connection to its Wimmera-mallee settler farming history, its creek foreshore, the towns recreational facilities and regional attractions.

Following are recommendations that align with the Wimmera Mallee regional strategy for improving Beulah’s liveability and in turn, visitor experience.

6. Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Wayfinding - alternate town entries The Phillips Street town centre is approximately 100 metres in local character preserves the heritage,outback feel and importantly length and includes areas of vacant land and shop fronts, the retains a sense of place for the town. $$ establishment of trees, furniture and grapevines as streetscape elements will enhance the feeling of activity in this area, providing The inclusion of BnB or short stay accommodation promotes Recommendation amenity for locals and visitors who wish to stop and explore. alternative accommodation options for visitors who are participating Beulah township has a gridded street plan where most east- Deciduous street tree planting provides shade amenity and will in the region’s tourist culture, heritage, food, or Silo Art trails. west streets connect to the Henty Highway, the town centre and regulate seasonal temperature extremes. Street trees also slow Yarriambiack Creek. Suggest the promotion of primary town centre traffic and promote walkability. Budget entry at Bell Street with secondary entries at Gladstone Street and Suggested budget (including GST): Budget Taverner Street intersections. The primary entry has opportunity for • Shopfront installations: $500 an iconic artistic wayfinding element. The secondary entry elements Suggested budget (including GST): • Decorative renovation - repair/repaint old signage: $1k per would include smaller artistic elements giving visitors alternative • Supply and plant approximately 30 semi-mature deciduous shopfront town entries. Suggest placement of iconic elements to be on street trees - prepare tree plant well including watering tube • Suggested shop front adaptive reuse conversion budget: $60- western road reserve to Vic Roads specifications and approvals. and 2 timber bollards plus traffic reflectors for protection: $1.5- 80k, excluding structural repairs 1.8k each - $45-55k; Benefit • Street furniture to include 4 x bench seats, 4 bins and 2 x artistic bicycle parking stands - local artist commission: $50- Consider Beulah entry and town centre signage ‘as a point of 65k difference’, promoting an active friendly rural sporting community. 1. Wayfinding - alternate town entries • Establish 30 grapevines including marine wire across top of Example - Moora town entry sign -Moora, WA Also linking connection to Yarriambiack Creek. Alternative artistic verandah: $7.5-12k Source: Brave and Curious entries will encourage visitors to stop and explore Beulah.

Budget 3. Shopfront Upgrades Suggested budget (including GST): • Three wayfinding artist elements: allow $60-80k per artwork $ $$

Recommendation 2. Town Streetscape Improvements Work with building owners in the main street to utilise vacant shop fronts for installations and displays such as of the local history, $ $$ art projects and potentially real estate listings. Investigate the possibility of establishing short stay self contained accommodation Recommendation in these buildings. The Phillip Street town centre from Gladstone Street intersection to the Victoria Hotel has a friendly pedestrian scale due to its accessible narrow street width and old world verandah shop Renovate facades and retain signage on old stores including the fronts. Suggest the following streetscape beautification elements to Victoria Hotel, an iconic building that provides a southern bookend enhance Beulah’s town centre: to the street. Members of the local community could puruse temporary installations in shop windows to create points of interest 2. Streetscape Improvements - Tree canopy (left) and Street furniture Deciduous Street Tree planting in road pavement (parallel parking and local identity on the street. Example project: Timber seating, Victor Harbour Main Street width). Suggested species include: Source: Spark Furniture • Bradford Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana) It is important that future developments are consistent with, and • Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) complement, local character. This is particularly important when • Claret Ash (Fraxinus Raywood) considering facade design. For example, the new grocery store 䈀攀昀漀爀攀䄀昀琀攀爀 • Desert Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) could use the façade of the old verandah shopfront at the corner • Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) of Gladstone and Phillips Street as an alternative to developing a • Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) contemporary building that ignores context. • Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus)

Placement of street furniture including seats, bins and artistic Ensure street furniture and bins are consistent across the town and bicycle parking. Recommend using simple materials including compliment the street architecture and facade designs. timber surfaces with unpainted non corrosive metal frames; and, Benefit Grape vines established on all shop fronts including Victoria Hotel to replicate the old shop building on the corner of Gladstone Street. Conserving and activating old shop fronts with new purposes encourages local confidence in the town centre and create an Benefit enhanced visitor experience. Streetscape beautification will provide multiple benefits for Beulah. Ensuring that any future developments are consistent with the 3. Shop Front Use Visualisation, Phillips St Relationship with Reliability & Source: Brave and Curious Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 7. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Key. Regional Strategy 1. Key Project Project Area (Masterplan) S Proposed Signage Town & Tourism Strategy Key Building Main Street (Existing) P Proposed Parking

Urban Area Proposed street project Point of Arrival

Proposed Project Trail (Existing) Street Tree Planting

Proposed Landscaping/Nature Proposed trail Project

To Rosebury Art Silo (11km) & 1. Hopetoun (24km) Yarriambiack Suggested Primary Creek Town Entry Wayfinding S

Post Office - Business & Information Centre To Rainbow (41km)

Vacant Lot 1. Suggested General Town Hall Store Location S Secondary Town Entry Wayfinding

Old grocery store Temporary General S location (burnt Store Location down)

2 R2: Streetscape Memorial Improvements Bell St S R3: Shop front upgrades 3.

R2: Town Streetscape Park and Improvements 2. Playground Yarriambiack Taverner St Creek S Victoria Hotel Caravan S R1: Artistic wayfinding Park 1. Secondary Town elements (alternate Entry Wayfinding S town entries) 1. S Beulah Caravan Park

Swimming Pool

To Brim Caravan Park Beulah Recreation (17.4km) and Brim Art Silo Reserve

Beulah Map Beulah Town Centre Map 0m 100m 200m 400m 800m 1:20,000 @ A3 0m 25m 50m 100m 200m 1:5,000 @ A3

Relationship with Reliability & Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 8. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

Reddas Park - Brim

0m 50m 100m 200m 400m Masterplan

Park Summary

‘we stayed there on our silo tour, the park is a very comfortable, bush type setting, there are limited power sites, and plenty of shade, the amenities block was clean with good hot water…’ Trip Advisor: May 2018

Redda Park is located adjacent the Yarriambiack Creek foreshore at Brim Weir, taking advantage of recreational fishing, bird watching, walking tracks, swimming, boating and canoeing. The park is on the western edge of Brim, a small town population of 100 on the Henty Hwy. The town has a hotel that does counter meals and is a two min drive away from Brim Silo which is part of the popular Silo Art Trail. Brim Silo is between the Sheep Hills Silo 3. to the south and the Rosebery Silo to the north.

The park is run by the local Lions Club and the $10 fee for powered and unpowered sites is an honour box system. The sites are all gravelled with shade available from stands of local 3. native trees.

R1: Expand existing lawn area to There is an amenity block that has two toilets, four showers and two change rooms, an outside provide tent sites wash up area, along with BBQ facilities on small patch of green grass with a playground for 3. the kids. 2. The strategy supports the park to continue successfully hosting visitors through ongoing Co Existing improvement of park facilities and amenities. Lawn Area Playground w/ Opportunities: shade cloth K & Co • Located adjacent Brim Weir; R3: Landscaping; mulch under Co Boat Ramp & • Shade; native tree & shrub groupings 3. Fishing Pontoon • Low fee; and, 3. • Diversity of recreational facilities. T&S Co 1. Constraints: R1: Additional sheltered • Only 1 amenity block with 1 toilet, 2 showers and 2 large change rooms in both male and 1. seating female. No vanity facilities including mirrors; and, • Large park is mostly areas of gravel, with limited grass or tent camping amenity. R1: Upgrade existing Park Facilities amenities block (and • Amenity block that has two toilets, four showers and two change rooms, an outside wash up improve approach) area, along with BBQ facilities on small patch of green grass with a playground for the kids. Park facilities: • Pet Friendly • Boat ramp fee for boats 20hp and above - powered and non-powered boating activities are permitted on the Brim Weir Pool Key. • Swimming area • Mobile Phone Coverage 1. Key Projects C / OV Cabin / Onsite Van • Fixed Fire places • Water Taps Proposed Projects K & Co Camp Kitchen & Covered Area • Rubbish disposal facilities • BBQ Facilities Access Routes Toilet & Shower Amenities T&S • Picnic tables Powered Sites Proposed Planting - groundcover/ buffer planting Fees: Unpowered Sites • $10 per night for either a power or unpowered site. Paid in a red honour box in front of the Tree Planting amenities, or at Dixon’s Garage of Brim Hotel. Tent Camping

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 9. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Upgrade to existing amenities block and 3. Mulch vegetation additional sheltered seating $ Recommendation $$ $$$ Supply and spread 75-100mm of organic/bush mulch under groupings of native trees and shrubs throughout the camping area. Recommendation Recommend the upgrade of the existing toilet block to being Benefit universally accessible, including another toilet and vanity mirrors Applying mulch to bare ground around groups of trees and shrubs for both male and female amenities. As part of these improvements, will immediately enhance the area by providing a defined edge improve the approach to present a more welcoming entry using to roads, lawn and camp sites. Mulch covering the exposed soil a compated gravel pathway and defined vegetation. Consider around trees and shrubs will benefit the health of the tree by softening the corrugated steel cladding using some planting/ minimising weed competition, soil compaction and retain moisture artwork. in the topsoil.

Provide additional covered seating areas near the BBQ facility and Budget in the recommended camping area.These could be located under Suggested budget (including GST): safe shade trees or provided with their own shade roof. • Supply and spread 500m2 @ $15-20 a square metre = $7.5- 1. Additional amenities block and upgrade to existing 10k Benefit Existing amenities block - continue campground aesthetic through use of steel and siting amongst bushland Source: Brave and Curious Universal or disabled access amenities are a strong drawcard for visitors.Providing a more welcoming approach will soften the utilitarian nature of the existing amenities block.

Provision of additional shelters will provide ample covered seating for both overnight campers and day use.

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • to upgrade existing amenity including disabled access: allow $50-75k, allow $5k for compacted gravel path and planting to approach • supply and establish 5 picnic tables with shelters to 3: $35,000

2. Tent Camp Site

$$ 2. Tent Camp Site Recommendation Example campground - Mungo Brush Campground Provide approximately 1,000 square metre irrigated lawn close to Source: NSW National Parks foreshore in addition to the BBQ and playground area as a tent camping and community meeting area. Bollard this area with timber sleeper bollards to protect from vehicle access. Provide signage to indicate parking next to adjacent tent camping sites.

Benefit The provision of a protected lawn area adjacent the foreshore is attractive for tent campers, also local and visitor recreation use.

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • supply and establish a level irrigated lawn area, 1,000 square metres with dressed timber sleeper bollards @ 1.5m centres: $55-60k

3. Mulch vegetation Example - Potter’s Gorge, WA Relationship with Reliability & Source: Weekend Notes Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 10. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

Town Strategy

The town of Hopetoun was established 1891 as a pioneering agricultural town and has developed into a significant service hub for the Southern Mallee area of Victoria. The town is driven by the surrounding rural economy, known for its grain production, prime lambs, gypsum, Angora goats, poultry and pigs. The town is located 386 kilometres north-west of Melbourne on the Henty Highway between Mildura 191km to the north, Warracknabeal 80km and Horsham 120km to the south.

Traditional Owners for the area are the Yarrikaluk people, also Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagik Nations. These Nations are represented by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

The first European to settle in the area was Peter McGinnis in 1846 and was granted a sheep run named ‘Lake Corrong’. In 1878 McGinnis sold his property to Edward Lascelles, known as the ‘Father of the Mallee’. Edward Lascelles named the town after Lord Hopetoun, who was Victorian Governor from 1889- 1895.

Regional attractions include the Wyperfeld National Park (Big Desert Wilderness Area) and the large freshwater lakes of Hindmarsh and Albacutya. Hopetoun is also part of the popular Silo Art Trail with Roseberry Silo 15km south.

Local natural attractions include Yarriambiack Creek and its distributary into Lake Corrong.

At nearby Lake Lascelles there is a variety of accommodation with informal camping around the lake and the Mallee Bush Retreat which has unique accommodation inside silos and a serviced camp ground. The Hopetoun Caravan Park is located between the lake and the eastern fringe of the township. There are 5 formalised walks around Hopetoun and a drive discovery tour. Hopetoun has a number of historic buildings, including homesteads such as Corrong Station Homestead and Hopetoun House. In the town centre there are significant historic buildings like the Memorial Hall and a number of old churches.

The Hopetoun community identify as a resilient farming community who enjoy nature-based recreation and community sporting events. The community has purchased the Hopetoun Community Hotel and this includes 12 renovated rooms and continues a vital commercial service for locals and visitors. The town revitalisation strategy proposes enhancing a town centre landmark and upgrading streetscape amenity.

The Wimmera-Mallee study applauds Yarriambiack Shire Council, Gateway BEET Hopetoun and Lake Lascelles/ Corrong Committee of Management for commissioning the Austin Street Hopetoun Streetscape Enhancement v4 prepared by Inclusive Design May 2017. The key objective of the design study was to consider streetscape improvements to Austin Street. The Wimmera-Mallee study picks up on the strategic moves of this study and provides additional wayfinding considerations to advance towards implementation of priority projects

The following recommendations align with the Wimmera Mallee regional strategy for improving Hopetoun’s liveability for locals, in turn enhancing visitors experience.

11. Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Town Centre Intersection Landmark 2. Austin Street Town Streetscape 3. Artistic Gateway Elements Treatment Improvements $$$ $$$ $$ Recommendation Recommendation Recommendation Provide town centre artistic gateway elements. Locate on Lascelles Upgrade town’s main intersection at the corner of Lascelles Improve town centre for locals and visitors through main street street northern approach to the town centre (cnr Murdoch Street) and Austin Streets to reflect a memorable, landmark treatment. greening. Focus this treatment on Austin Street from the major town and southern approach (Dennys Street). Artistic element to be Recommend using elements that reflect a local colour and materials centre roundabout west to Wathe Lane and east to Chiprick Lane. placed on visible part of verge to VicRoad and Yarriambiack Shire palette, for example similar to the Mallee Bush Retreat and To avoid shop front verandahs, street trees should be established Council specifications. The artistic elements are to align with Cronomby Tanks Campground, and consistent with the proposed in the road pavement 2/3 width of parallel parking and protected fountain upgrade and Lake Lascelles/Coorong theming, including regional strategy materials pallete. The revitalisation of this area is by treated hardwood timber bollards. Placement of trees to frame reflecting local materials and colour pallete. to include the upgrade of the following elements: shop fronts. Include street trees near pedestrian crossover nibs and • Design and construct a creative refurbishment of the protect by with dressed sleeper hardwood timber bollards. Benefit roundabout fountain and lighting to be a proud central town Artistic elements located on Henty Hwy entry points, leading up icon, worthy of visitor photos and promotion. The park on the to Hopetoun’s town centre will promote visitor arrival expectation corner can also include a tall up lighted structure to enclose Recommend large deciduous trees to provide adequate shade. inviting the traveller to stopover and explore. The town entry 1. Town Centre Intersection Landmark Treatment this intersection with landmark treatments; gateway element will also promote local creativity and town pride. • Upgrade / painting of building facades and properties, including Suggested tree species include: Example project: Lismore creative roundabouts • Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Source: Lismore.com lighting of facades, painting or creatively covering blank walls Budget facing the roundabout; and, • Desert Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) Suggested budget (including GST): • Prepare and implement a signage strategy for this intersection, • Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) including wayfinding, noting proximity to Lake Lascelles and • Fabrication and placement of 2 artistic elements: $150k each the proud, resilient farming community. Promote regional • Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) connections - Wyperfield National Park and the Silo Art Trail • Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) including the Rosebery Art Silo (15km South). • Consider the Lakes’ physical and narrative relationship to Continue the strong planting of grape vines along street shop town, as well as environmental and cultural value fronts. In areas where shopfront verandahs do not exist consider establishing stand alone posts that frame lots with fastened marine wire to continue this treatment - do not provide this grapevine post Benefit and marine wire treatment in front of historic building façades. A The Austin, Lascelles Street intersection requires a landmark grapevine frame, up lighted could also be considered at the front treatment that will promote a proud, memorable town centre visitor of the corner park at the Austin and Lascelles Street roundabout. experience.

Budget Benefit Suggested budget (including GST): Ornamental Pears and grapevines have recently been established • Concept Plan & artistic design development (Recommendation in Lascelles Street. A strong tree canopy planting on Austin street 2. Austin St Town Centre Beautification 1 & 3): $30k will enhance this area providing local and visitor town centre shared Example - Street grapveines (left) and Dimboola street tree location (right) • Construct a creative refurbishment of the roundabout fountain, amenity. Source: Brave and Curious including tall landmark structure in corner park and lighting: Large deciduous tree planting will not only beautify the Hopetoun’s $250k; town centre but provide shade in summer and sun in winter, helping • Upgrade / painting of building facades and properties facing to regulate extreme seasonal temperatures. the roundabout including lighting of facades: $125-250k; and, The infill of grapevine planting will contribute to the existing theming, • Prepare and implement a signage strategy for this intersection: greening the town centre and offering a welcoming local and visitor $125-150k friendly streetscape.

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • Supply and plant semi-mature trees - prepare tree planting well, including watering tube and 2 timber bollards plus traffic reflectors, as required: $1.2-1.5k each. (approximately 40 trees = $55-60k) • Establish grapevines, infill post and marine wire frames: allow $45-50k

3. Artistic Gateway Elements Example artistic elements - use local materials, consider potential to explore Relationship with Reliability & Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing cultural heritage Source:Dubbo (left) / AstrotourismWA (right Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 12. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Key. Regional Strategy 1. Key Project Project Area (Masterplan) S Proposed Signage Town & Tourism Strategy Key Building Main Street (Existing) P Proposed Parking

Urban Area Proposed street project Point of Arrival

Proposed Project Trail (Existing) Street Tree Planting

Proposed Landscaping/Nature Proposed trail Project

Hopetoun Aerodrome Rd

Hopetoun West Rd Burroin Rd To Woomelang Cronomby Tanks Caravan Park (29.4km)

Hopetoun / Lake 3. Hopetoun / Lake Lascelles Caravan Park Lascelles Caravan Park 3. R3: Artistic Gateway Elements Bowling Club Bowling Tennis Tennis

Swimming 1. 2. R1:Town Centre Intersection Landmark Treatment

Projects draw visitors to Swimming Pool Lascelles St Lake Lascelles R3: Austin St Town Centre 3. R1 & R3:Consider the Lakes’ Beautification R1:Town Centre Intersection physical and narrative 1. Landmark Treatment - relationship to town, as well roundabout and building as environmental and facade upgrades Supermarket cultural value Hotel

Bottleshop

Hopetoun - Yaapeet Road 1. Gateway BEET Bank Memorial Hall LPO Bow Bakery

R2: Austin Town Centre Hopetoun Cafe Beautification

3. R3: Artistic Gateway Elements

Hopetoun - Rainbow Road

Beulah Map Beulah Town Centre Map 1:20,000 @ A3 1:5,000 @ A3

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Town & Tourism Strategy

Hopetoun Caravan Park 0m 50m 100m 200m 400m Masterplan

Park Summary

The Hopetoun Caravan Park is located on the eastern end of Austin Street adjacent the town tennis courts and bowls club to the west and the embankment of a water reservoir to the east. The park is in a quiet location a short 200m walk to Lake Lascelles and a 10 minute walk to Lake Corrong. The R2: Landscaping - mulch and 2. hardwood bollards to vegetated areas park is lineal in layout and has approximately 60 tourist sites. The Park is owned by Yarriambiack Shire Council with a Caretaker manager.

The park is in a sub-optimal location especially when considered in the context of Lake Lascelles and the free camping opportunities it provides.

Hopetoun Caravan Opportunities Park Existing Lawn Area • Paved roads throughout park; Lake Lascelles & Covered Area • Ideal non fee paying or camping overflow site making use of existing amenities and facilities; and, • Large amount of powered, shade and lawn sites. R1: Consider relocating paid sites to foreshore. Tent Camp Site Constraints Day Use - Covered T&S Not located on Lake Lascelles foreshore. 1. meeting area & amenities Park amenities include: • Disabled access toilet • Showers • Laundry Dump point outside the entrance Mallee Bush Retreat - covered Existing Lawn Area Park facilities include: accommodation Lake Coorong Suggested T&S Conservation/ • Paved road throughout park and facilities • Camp Kitchen extended lawn S Recreation trailheads, day • BBQ use & parking for Yarriambiack Creek Area • Playground Lake Coorong • Lawn visitors • Shade • Pet friendly R1: Emphasise Lake Corrong & Lascelles conservation value by creating day use & Accommodation Options: Existing 1. trailheads at their connection/Yarriambiack • 40 Powered Sites Interpretation S Creek. Revegate and install vehicle • 20 Unpowered Sites Signage turnarounds to limit through traffic. • Long vehicle drive through sites • Tent Sites • Cabins

Proposed Projects K & Co Camp Kitchen & Covered Area

Access Routes T&S Toilet & Shower Amenities

Powered Sites Proposed Planting - groundcover/ buffer planting Unpowered Sites Tree Planting Tent Camping

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Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Lake Lascelles Concept Plan 2. Lake Lascelles Landscaping

$$ $$ Recommendation Recommendation A Lake Lascelles Concept Plan is to be prepared by a qualified • Supply and spread native mulching around foreshore tree and recreation planner to determine best uses of this valued recreation vegetated areas. reserve. The plan is to be prepared in collaboration and support • Replace treated pine logs that protect areas from vehicles of the Yarriambiack Shire Council and members of the community with dressed hardwood timber sleeper bollards. who have a strong interest in the reserve. Benefit The concept plan brief at a minimum is to consider the following: Simple landscape techniques can help beautify, clarify the use of spaces and protect people, foreshore uses and natural assets. • Consider the potential relocation of Hopetoun Caravan Park Applying mulch to bare ground around trees and shrubs will to the lake shore, with possible management by Mallee Bush immediately enhance the area by providing: Retreat and clean up the reservoir area, buffer planting to • A defined edge to vegetated areas, lawn or camp sites; and, reservoir and relocate free camping to the existing caravan • Mulch covering the exposed soil areas around trees and park site; shrubs benefit the health of the tree by minimising weed 1. Lake Lascelles Concept Plan • Landscape qualities (possible nature, cultural heritage competition, soil pedestrian and vehicle compaction and Example masterplan: MONA Camping Concept Plan TAS Source: Brave and Curious conservation areas – walks); retain moisture in the topsoil. • Visitor stay experience and recreation potential –zoning of • Conceal and screen dividing fences between the recreational uses; areas and the reservoirs. • Greater diversity of accommodation offerings (fees and no fees); The bollards will provide a more national park aesthetic for the • Universal accessible amenities and broader camp ground foreshore camp ground, encouraging respect from visitors, requirements; providing wayfinding and protecting the sites natural and potential • Lake Lascelles facility requirements; cultural heritage elements. Bollards are a low visual impact and • Wayfinding and interpretation themes (good example of limit off road vehicle use, improving camping safety. interpretation signage on site) - Cultural heritage interpretation opportunities; Use of feature timber bollards: • Consider connection to Lake Corrong by installing turnarond points and minimising ‘laps’ around lake. This will provide • Suggest using solid hardwood dressed sleeper bollards (angle a space to appreciate and conserve the Corrong-Lascelles top for water run-off) to protect meeting areas, amenities, connection. camp ground facilities and non-trafficable foreshore areas • Rationalise vehicle tracks; • Align rectangular bollards so that the short side is facing out • Expand foreshore grassed areas for camping; with highest part of the bollard (top angle cut) on the inside; • The Lakes physical and narrative relationship to town; • Place 1.5m apart; and, • The provision of cost estimated implementation staging. • Provide traffic reflectors where required to delineate start of road edges or corners. 1. Lake Lascelles Concept Plan Benefit Example: Leven Canyon Trailhead and Daye Use Area Budget Source: Free Camping Tasmania The benefits of a Lake Lascelles Concept Plan include: Suggested budget (including GST): • A community supported long term vision for Hopetoun’s key recreational and visitor attraction; • Supply and spread 1000m2 @ $18-20 a square metre: $18- • An opportunity to reassess the lake’s value for the town and 20k changing needs; • Supply and place 200 timber bollards (traffic reflectors, as • Maximise the paid and serviced caravan park and camping required): $25-30k opportunity at the prime lake shore location; • The provision of costed, staged implementation.

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • Preparing concept plan - $30-35k

2. Lake Lascelles Landscaping Example: Pirra Warra Campground, SA Relationship with Reliability & Source: Natural Resources SA Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

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Town & Tourism Strategy

Cronomby Tanks Campground, Woomelang Masterplan 20m0m 40m 80m 160m

Park Summary

The Cronomby Tanks Campground is on the corner of Proctor Street and Sunraysia Highway, Woomelang in north-west Victoria. The town is located on the railway servicing Mildura, 70km north- east of Warracknabeal and 30km east of Hopetoun. Woomelang was originally known as ‘Cronomby’ after the natural waterhole that first attracted the early settlers to this area. When the railway line arrived, earthen dams or ‘tanks’ were formalised from the natural waterholes for steam trains to reload water supplies.

Today the Tanks have been cleaned out and linked together to create a popular picnic, camping area and fishing spot.

Cronomby Tanks Campground is fee free and provides powered and non-powered sites, with basic but clean amenities and is located in close proximity to the public playground and picturesque R1: Upgrade firepit/ central railway silos. meeting area The Cronomby Tanks Campground is an ideal example of a Wimmera Mallee camp ground aesthetic, using local farming and bushland materials as camp facility elements, signage and interpretation. The campground materials reflect a local shearing shed aesthetic which was constructed from 1. R2: Landscaping - define compressed kerosene tins and which stands as a monument to the war time shortage of building boundaries using bollards materials. The campground has simple toilet amenities made from a converted concrete water tank and again R2: Landscaping - define & protect reflects the local bush ingenuity and aesthetic. vegetation using mulching 2. Opportunities Good example of utilising Wimmera Mallee bush farming materials and aesthetic for camp ground elements and signage.

Constraints • Additional natural tree shade; • Upgrade of central firepit, bench and meeting area; • Site protection – vehicle controls.

Park amenities include: • Simple single toilet amenities in a concrete tank.

Park facilities include: • Firepits • Central meeting bench

Key. 20m0m40mAccommodation Options: • Powered and unpowered sites. 1. Key Projects C / OV Cabin / Onsite Van Park fees: Proposed Projects K & Co Camp Kitchen & Covered Area • Free camping.

Access Routes T&S Toilet & Shower Amenities The following campground strategy supports the Cronomby Tanks Campgrounds ability to continue successfully hosting visitors through providing ongoing park facilities improvements. Powered Sites Proposed Planting - groundcover/ buffer planting Unpowered Sites Tree Planting Tent Camping

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Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Upgrade firepit, central meeting area Benefit Simple landscape techniques can help beautify, clarify and protect $ significant areas. Recommendation Applying forest or native mulch to bare ground around trees and Using the local bush materials aesthetic, upgrade firepit and shrubs will immediately enhance the area by providing: meeting area by providing two large timber benches and • A defined edge to vegetated areas and camp sites; upgrade stone fire hearth with swingable cook plate. Develop a • Mulch covering the exposed soil areas around trees and camp kitchen, or indoor food preparation area. shrubs assist the trees health by minimising weed competition, soil compaction by pedestrians and vehicles and moisture Benefit retention in the topsoil. The central area upgrade will provide a strong focus to the Use of timber sleeper bollards designate the camp ground, improve campground also encourage impromptu meetings/gatherings, visitor safety and provide a simple bush informal aesthetic. which will enhance the visitor experience. Budget Budget Suggested budget (including GST): Suggested budget (including GST): • Supply and spread 500m2 @ $18-20 a square metre: $8-10k • Supply and place 2 x large Timber Benches and upgrade • Supply and place 50 timber bollards (traffic reflectors, as 1. Upgrade firepit, central meeting area stone firepit: allow $7.5-10k required): $8-10k Example firepit and meeting area - local materials. Source: Wingham Chronicle 2. Landscaping

$ Recommendation Supply and spread native mulching to tree groupings and areas to be protected within the camping area for increased definition between protected areas and access areas. Extending the gravel driveway and installing more timber bollards to allow patrons to drive down to the second camp area near the town end dam. Extension of the walking track through the addition of more gravel and bollards; this walking track should link the town and the Cronomby Tanks. Dressed timber sleepers are already used as bollards in this area and provide a strong local bush farm aesthetic.

Currently bollard placement is too sparse in parts - bollard placement is to be ideally at 1.5m centres. If service vehicles are 2. Landscaping required place bollard opening at 3m centres and use a chain Example: Mulching to Potters Gorge, WA and lock system, or alternatively place the middle bollard on a Source: CaravanWA steel plate hinge and lock system so it can be laid down for service vehicle entry.

Use of feature timber bollards:

• Suggest continuation of existing hardwood dressed sleeper bollards (angle top for water run-off) to protect meeting areas, amenities, camp ground facilities and non-trafficable foreshore areas • Align rectangular bollards so that the short side is facing out with highest part of the bollard (top angle cut) on the inside; • Place 1.5m centres; • Provide traffic reflectors where required to delineate start of service road edges or prominent corners.

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Town & Tourism Strategy

Town Strategy

‘A Town With Pulse’

Rupanyup is a small town in Victoria’s Wimmera Mallee region. It is located 294 km north-west of Melbourne on the Wimmera Highway. The town is in the heart of Victoria’s agricultural Wheatbelt and has specialised in growing pulses - lentils, chickpeas and beans.

First surveyed in 1873, the town located on Dunmunkle Creek was originally known as Lallat. The Post Office opened on 22 February 1875 as Karkarooc and was renamed Rupanyup in 1876. The name Rupanyup is possibly from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘branch hanging over water’. Traditional Owners include the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagik Nations. These Nations are represented by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

The main street, Cromie Street, is uniquely separated by a wide treed median that provides a green streetscape and protected parking for town traders. Rupanyup community has a big heart, and this was acknowledged in 1998 when, in partnership with Minyip, the town opened the first Bendigo Community Bank Branch. Today it has the bank, a pub, a supermarket, a takeaway, post office and newsagency. The community continues to support the town and are in the process of a community supported town centre redevelopment enterprise on the eastern corner of Walter and Cromie Street. Local traders, such as Rupanyup Living, trading out of Cust’s Store are promoting local produce and crafts.

Rupanyup is located at the southern commencement of the Silo Art Trail. The regional 190 km Silo Art Trail includes Rupanyup in the south through Sheep Hills, Brim, Rosebery and Lascelles to Patchewollock in the north. The Rupanyup Silo Art is located on Gibson Street at the northern end of the main street. Other local attractions include:

• Woods Farming and Heritage Museum which has an extensive display of farming and household memorabilia; • Jack’s Track, a 3.4km walk that starts near the Silo Art and heads north between Frayne Avenue and the Stawell-Warracknabeal Road. The track also has glimpses of the historic railway station which is currently in private ownership; • Rupanyup Memorial Park located on the Wimmera Highway just north of the Silo Art, powered caravan sites and a Battle of Beersheba memorial; • Four chainsaw art pieces The town centre area has a number of historic verandah shop fronts including the significant Commercial Hotel. A number of heritage buildings of interest include: the heritage listed Primary School (1878), Rupanyup Railway Station (1890), Post Office, Memorial Hall, the old CBA Bank, Commercial Hotel (still operating as accommodation provider), The Old Four Mill (1909), Anglican Church (1912) and Masonic Lodge (1918).

Cust’s Store, in the centre of town, is an example of an old-style general store named after one of the first shops erected within the town.

Rupanyup’s town strategy relies on supporting the community enterprise projects, conserving the integrity of its historic character while considering community and tourist amenity to ensure a unique visitor experience and the progress of Rupanyup’s community wellbeing.

Following are recommendations that align with the Wimmera Mallee regional strategy for improving Rupanyup’s liveability and visitor experience.

18. Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Support Town Centre Redevelopment - 3. Main Street Facade Upgrades Playground $ $$$ Recommendation Recommendation Activate vacant shop fronts through community low key renovation Suggest establishing a playground in the Cromie Street median working bees. Ideas may include heritage painting, façade low- adjacent the town centre redevelopment community enterprise. key renovation work, mural painting or shop front signwriting and Provide natureplay playground equipment with similar materials interior displays. The idea is to be creative and build on a local and elements to the Goroke natureplay. Include a black pool fence Rupanyup historic or contemporary theme. to boundary with landscaping each side of the fence. Include two self-closing gates, shaded areas, a meeting shelter and an area of Benefit lawn. Painting and renovating vacant shop fronts will signal to locals and visitors an activated and committed community. It will promote Benefit visitor stopover and nurture local pride in the town. A playground will support the town centre redevelopment and provide an additional stopover attraction for visitors. Budget 1. Support town centre redvelopment - playground Suggested budget (including GST): Example project: Nature Play, Rockingham Budget Source: NaturePlayWA • Allow $5-7k for materials Suggested budget (including GST): • Allow $270-300k

2. Establish trail heads at town centre and Gibson St Silo Art $$

Recommendation Suggest establishment of two trail heads, one to be located in large median or the Community Retail Hub at the centre of town and the other at Gibson Street Silo Art. Recommendation to include track collaborative concept and interpretation plan to include community input prior implementation.

Benefit The trail heads are to provide visitors and locals with a number 2. Establish trail heads at town centre and silo Governor’s Island Wayfinding, NY of trails around town including a heritage buildings trail, food, craft Source: Assembly Guidelines - Centre for Active Design trails, a trail linking to Woods Farming and Heritage Museum, Rupanyup memorial and Jack’s Track, etc.

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • Collaborative concept and interpretation plan: $15k • Track head signage implementation: $35-40k

3. Main Street Facade Upgrades Shopfront improval example - aesthetic and cultural improvement for ‘meanwhile’ Relationship with Reliability & Source: Artsy Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 19. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Key. Regional Strategy 1. Key Project Project Area (Masterplan) S Proposed Signage Town & Tourism Strategy Key Building Main Street (Existing) P Proposed Parking

Urban Area Proposed street project Point of Arrival

Proposed Project Trail (Existing) Street Tree Planting

Proposed Landscaping/Nature Proposed trail

Project Stawell - Stawell

Warracknabeal Rd

Minyip Caravan Park Silo Art (18.9km)

S 2. R2: Establish trail heads at town centre and silo art Murtoa Caravan Park (19.9km)

Woods Farming and Heritage Jack Emmett Museum Billabong and Rupanyup Memorial Park

Silo Art Jack’s Track S

R2: Establish trail heads at R1:Support Town Centre town centre & silo art Redevelopment - Playground; R2: Establish trail heads at potential to reclaim some 1. town centre and silo art S parking space R3:Main Street Facade R1:Support Town Centre 3. Upgrades Redevelopment - Playground 1. Community Retail Hub (under 2. construction)

S Rupanyup Living R3: Main Street Facade Bendigo Bank Upgrades

Commercial Stawell - Hotel

Kindergarten Rupanyup Warracknabeal Rd Primary School

Rupanyup Rupanyup Town Centre Map 0m 100m 200m 400m 800m 1:20,000 @ A3 0m 25m 50m 100m 200m 1:5,000 @ A3

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Town & Tourism Strategy

Minyip Caravan Park Minyip Car avan P ark 50m0m 100m 200m 400m Masterplan

Park Summary

Minyip Caravan Park is located at the northern edge of town on Petering Street. The park takes advantage of a unique wetland environment that includes areas for recreational landscape walks, exercise nodes, wetland bird watching and stargazing.

Twenty years ago, the site was part of the local refuse tip and through local community volunteers the area has been rehabilitated back to Buloke Woodland that was once widespread throughout western Consider supporting conversion of existing and northern Victoria. The woodland flora includes the rare Wimmera Rice Flower, native mistletoe reservoirs into natural open and a variety of endemic wattles. living stream/wetlands The bushland trails are wheelchair accessible providing an opportunity to view a variety of birdlife including the eastern rosella, long billed corella, kites and numerous thornbills. Minyip’s recent claim to fame is the town centre being transformed into Coopers Crossing from the popular TV series, The Flying Doctors and part of the popular Silo Art Trail located in between Sheep Hills and Rupanyup Silo Art.

S The Minyip Caravan Park strategy builds on upgrading park facilities and wayfinding elements to 2. Playground K&Co continue successfully hosting visitors and providing an enriched experience.

R2: Shelter from Westerly Opportunities wind T&S • Accessible toilets and trails; Utility • Located in a unique wetland landscape, showcasing Buloke Woodland and wetland ecology; • Quiet; and, 1. R1: Park Concept Plan • Close to local and regional attractions including the Silo Art Trail.

Constraints

• Sceptic tank near parking • Park requires concept planning to consider ongoing wetland and woodland rehabilitation 3. including zoning of recreation and camping areas; • Requires shade and westerly wind shelter; S R3: Park Signage • Requires drive through and tent sites.

Park amenities include: • New accessible toilets • Power; and, • Potable water. Key. Park facilities include: 1. Key Projects C / OV Cabin / Onsite Van • BBQ • Shaded playground Proposed Projects K & Co Camp Kitchen & Covered Area • Basketball hardstand; • Camp kitchen; Access Routes T&S Toilet & Shower Amenities • Walking tracks; • Exercise equipment; and Powered & Unpowered Sites Proposed Planting - groundcover/ buffer planting • Seating areas. Sceptic Tank Constraint Tree Planting Accommodation Options: Tent Camping • Gravel hardstand for caravan and camping sites; • Lawn area for tents; • Power and non-powered.

Park fees: • $10 a night Relationship with Reliability & Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 21. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Park Concept Plan allow $15-20k • Group plantings 20-30 local trees and shrubs: allow $500 per group. $ • Recommendation 3. Park Signage Preparation of a Minyip Park Concept Plan by a qualified recreational / environmental planner to address ongoing wetland / woodland rehabilitation, camping, recreation and the trails $ network. The concept plan is also to focus on the camping area Recommendation layout, including requirements for; Suggest the caravan park signage located at the Peterson Street turn-off is designed to promote/brand this unique park, • Extending caravan and tent camping areas - allowing for drive visitor stopover area. The sign may include a landscape picture through sites; of the Wimmera Rice Flower, birdlife or overlooking the path and • Possible requirement for future amenities; waterway, etc. • Park facilities; • Trails network that addresses exercise, walking, and wetlands Benefit interpretation and opportunity for stargazing, creative landscape art area; Apart from simple wayfinding, park signage has an opportunity to promote or brand the park experience for potential visitors and for 1. Caravan Park Concept Plan • Possible extension or shaping of waterways; and, Example concept plan: Coolum Beach Holiday Park Qld • Consider including Aboriginal Cultural Heritage interpretation marketing. Source: View News Sunshine Coast for this area. Budget The concept plan is to include a community collaborative design Suggested budget (including GST): approach and can be considered as part of a university design • Allow$10-15k project (i.e. RMIT Landscape Architecture) or through a planning consultant that is prepared to partner with the park representative group on a design journey for a preferred concept direction.

Benefit A considered Minyip Park Concept Plan will provide strong direction for implementation of future park projects, including ongoing wetland and bushland rehabilitation, costing and priority staging.

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • Concept Plan:allow up to $15k

2. Shelter from Westerly Wind 2. Shelter from Westerly Wind Example gabion wall/ timber slat windbreak Source: Landscaping Network $ $$ Recommendation Include built and natural elements to provide shelter from seasonal strong westerly winds. This may include westerly facing wrap around walls to shelter camp kitchen or shade structures and / or tight group plantings of endemic tree and shrubs to provide natural wind breaks.

Benefit The consideration of sheltered spaces provides comfortable outside landscape amenity and enhances the visitor park experience.

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • Built shelter walls consider natural rock wire gabions or timber sleepers placed upright to blend into the local environment: 3. Park Signage Example caravan park entry signage Relationship with Reliability & Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

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Town & Tourism Strategy

Town Strategy

Warracknabeal township is located on the banks of the Yarriambiack Creek between Horsham and Hopetoun, north-west Victoria. The town is at the juncture of Henty Highway, Borung Highway and the Stawell-Warracknabeal Road 330km from the state capital Melbourne.

Traditional Owners for the area are the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagik Nations. These Nations are represented by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation. In 1845 the Scott brothers moved to Yarriambiack Creek to an area they called ‘Werracknabeal’ after the Aboriginal word describing the gum trees shading the waterway and established their pastoral run.

Today, Warracknabeal is a thriving rural commercial centre, with a permanent population of approximately 2300. Warracknabeal is at the centre of the major grain growing area and the present day prosperity that town enjoys is part the result of it being a service hub to surrounding smaller townships and the region’s diverse agricultural industries which include fat lambs, wool, wheat, barley, lupins, peas, beans and canola. The Yarriambiack Shire Council administrative centre is located at Warracknabeal.

Warracknabeal’s identity is linked to the town’s farming history and unique Wimmera Mallee landscape. A tribute to the town’s early settlement days is evident at the junction of Scott Street and Woolcock Street, known as ‘Federation Place’, where full-size sculptures of a Kelpie rounding up sheep are located within the roundabout. Other nods to this history are found at the roundabout at the junction of Phillips Street where a sculpture of a dog sits atop bags of wool and again at Lyle Street roundabout.

Warracknabeal’s commercial centre is at the northern end of Scott Street, stretching from the Lyle Street intersection to Phillips Street.The town centre features a number of historic buildings including the Tudor-style post office (built in 1907) and the old State Savings Bank building (1909), the court house in Woolcock Street which was built in 1891. A log lock-up, which was built in 1872 is found in Devereux Street. The Anglican Church dates back to 1887, and an old brick water tower located at the northern end of Tarrant Street was used to service stream trains and later for the town’s drinking water, from 1886.

Other local town attractions include the Warracknabeal Historical Centre, the Wheatlands Agricultural Museum, an historic Ladies Rest Room, and wonderful eclectic shops like the Wheatlands Warehouse that has a large collection of well-organised 2nd hand goods, collectables and curios. This is operated by Museum volunteers with profits going towards the further development of the Museum.

The Yarriambiack Creek flows through Warracknabeal and includes footbridges, walking tracks, BBQ picnic areas, playground and a boat ramp. North of Lyle Street there a number of parks and gardens including a flora and fauna park. Anzac Park is the recreational centre of Warracknabeal, located at the southern end of Scott Street and Arnold Street. The town’s contemporary claim to fame is being the birth place of Australian rock legend Nick Cave.

The town is central to regional attractions including the popular Silo Art Trail, large freshwater lakes, the Big Desert Wilderness (Wyperfield National Park) and other unique Wimmera Mallee town hamlets. This area is rich with Aboriginal cultural heritage and unique Wimmera Mallee landscape beauty. The climate provides for mild winters and warm summers, with an average rainfall of 430mm.

The towns contemporary role and character is shifting from that of a farming service town into a central urban hub for regional community and visitor experience. The town is central to the Silo Art Trail, promoting surrounding town produce, attracting enterprise and innovation. The Warracknabeal revitalisation strategy considers improving town centre amenity and wayfinding to reflect this changing service offering for the benefit of both locals and visitors. .

23. Regional Strategy

Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Warracknabeal Town Streetscape Activation • Stage 3: Permanent meeting/alfresco areas $325-375k 4. Town Centre Street Tree Supplementation including verge treatments, furniture and tree planting $$ $$$ $ Recommendation 2. Shop Front Program/ Town Centre Recommendation In collaboration with community representatives, shop front traders Accommodation Provide additional street tree planting within road pavement / and Yarriambiack Shire Council, investigate town centre activation $$ parallel parking areas. Extend the tree planting treatment from opportunities and improvements in the form of alfresco meeting and the town centre ‘Federation Place’ intersection along Scott and eating places that push into carpark spaces and the main street. Woolcock Streets. Provide street tree planting that frames trade Recommendation store frontages, still allowing for trade front parking and long Appropriate areas within the town centre leading from Federation vehicle parking on Woolcock Street. Plant trees 2/3rds out from Place to be investigated with shop front traders for attracting Investigate alternative store uses through a town progress verge pavement edge within the carpark road pavement. Protect locals and visitors with on street areas to sit, meet, drink, eat. This committee purchasing vacant shop/trade fronts for new purposes, street trees with dressed timber sleeper bollards. Continue street includes an opportunity for locals and visitors to be entertained by including short stay (BnB) accommodation. planting of Queensland Box (Lephostomen confertus), preparing musicians, street performers or just watching the world go by. tree planning wells with watering tube.

These improvements can be initially tested with simple road line Benefit marking (pavement paint) and testing moveable items such as 1. Alternative shop front uses for accommodation will provide Centre medians have been planted with Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucadendron) and supplementation is recommended where trees 1. Warracknabeal Town Streetscape Activation trees, colourful plants in large pots, on movable pallets with robust diversity in visitor accommodation offerings. This could provide Example project: seasonal parklet in parking space, Philadelphia tables, chairs and umbrellas to provide an on street welcoming attractive and unusual town centre stays inviting visitors to are missing along the centre median of Scott Street. Source: Shift Space Design alfresco feel. It is an opportunity to contemporise the town character stay and participate in the region’s cultural, heritage, nature, including using bright colours as much as possible. food, and Silo Art trails. New opportunities also encourages Benefit local community confidence in the town centre. Additional street trees provide strong amenity for pedestrians and Over an agreed period of time and if the initiative is deemed parked vehicles. Street trees planted close to the vehicle lane will successful, more permanent undertakings can occur through Budget slow traffic in town centre areas, protecting both pedestrians and detailed plans and construction, with the ability to include universal vehicles. accessibility treatments, nib kerbing, raised pavement and Suggested budget (including GST): permanent street tree planting. • Suggested shop front short stay/BnB conversion budget: $60- 80k each, excluding structural repairs, if required. Budget Note: Scott Street has angled parking where an alfresco area may Suggested budget (including GST): include up to four parking spaces, or removal of one parking space • Planting of semi-mature trees including bollards; Allow $1.2- to include an in-road pavement street tree. 3. Wayfinding from Highway 1.5k per tree. $ $$$

Benefit Recommendation The benefit of enhancing streetscape activation within the town Warracknabeal requires a strong simple and creative wayfinding centre of Warracknabeal includes: strategy to attract and direct visitors from Henty Highway into the • A visible welcoming amenity for community and visitors; town centre. This may require two signs or creative artistic elements 3. Wayfinding from Highway • Designates the town centre or ‘point of arrival’, an invitation for at the intersections of Borung Hwy and Scott Street. Example - Port Adeliade artistic element visitors to stopover, rest and explore; Source: Brave and Curious • The safe provision of streetscape activity close to vehicle The strategy should also include directing long vehicles into traffic lanes will slow vehicle speed and provide positive traffic designated parking walkable to the town centre, in cross streets friction. In this way the main street becomes more of a shared such as Woolcock St. use zone rather than pedestrians being secondary to vehicular traffic. Much easier for a pedestrians to negotiate crossing the Benefit street and visiting more traders; While Warracknabeal town centre has strong creative wayfinding • Provides opportunity to develop universal accessibility within elements the route from Henty Highway can be confusing for a the town centre; visitor and clear signage or creative elements will help to entice the • Successful meeting places provide opportunities to promote visitor into Scott Street. town services and events; and, • Public alfresco/meeting areas offer opportunities for creative and artistic prospects, music, poetry, story-telling, etc. Budget Suggested budget (including GST): Budget • Wayfinding from Henty Highway, allow for two artistic elements Suggested budget (including GST): / signage: allow $100 - 125k per element • Stage 1 - Quick win temporary movable interventions: $25-30k • Directional signage for long vehicles into Woolcock Street: • Stage 2 - Concept Plan: $10k allow $15-20k

4. Town Centre Street Tree Supplementation Example tree planting, Gipp St, Melbourne Relationship with Reliability & Source: City of Melbourne Urban Water Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 24. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage Key. Regional Strategy 1. Key Project Project Area (Masterplan) S Proposed Signage Town & Tourism Strategy Key Building Main Street (Existing) P Proposed Parking

Urban Area Proposed street project Point of Arrival

Proposed Project Trail (Existing) Street Tree Planting

Proposed Landscaping/Nature Proposed trail Creekside Hotel Project

Wheatlands Warehouse

R3: Artistic wayfinding element from highway

3. Anderson St Anderson Jamouneua St Jamouneua St Down Town Post Office Takeaway Woolcock St Tourism Information Office 1. Warracknabeal Caravan Park 1. 3. 3. Cafe Pharmacino 3. Long Vehicle Parking R3: Artistic wayfinding P element from highway 3. P Long Vehicle Parking Foodworks Post Office R3: Artistic wayfinding element from highway Cafe Peppercorn Tourism 1. Information Office Ladies Restrooms

R1: Town Centre Streetscape Activation

4. Wheatlands Agricultural R3: Town Centre Street Tree Supplementation Museum

R2: Wayfinding from S highway 3.

Warracknabeal Warracknabeal Town Centre Map 0m 100m 200m 400m 800m 1:20,000 @ A3 0m 25m 50m 100m 200m 1:5,000 @ A3

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Town & Tourism Strategy

Warracknabeal Caravan Park

0m 20m 40m 80m 160m Masterplan

Park Summary

The Warracknabeal Caravan Park is located on a picturesque bend in the Yarriambiack Creek on 2 Lyle Street (Borung Hwy), on the western side of Warracknabeal’s town centre. The park is quite small, approximately 1 hectare, with a large central area occupied by 12 ensuite sites. The park flanks the Yarriambiack Creek treed foreshore.

The main amenities are located on the western side of the park close to the foreshore. The Park is managed by the Yarriambiack Shire Council with an offsite park manager. The park is pet friendly with 60 sites in all including powered and unpowered. Yarriambiack Creek 3. This strategy supports the park continuing to successfully host visitors while understanding 2. constraints around its small size and changing visitor requirements. R2: Increase lawn area to riverside Opportunities 2. sites Picturesque setting; R1: Suggested indicative masterplan layout shown Walkable to town centre and along creek attractions; and, Established shade trees along foreshore environment. 1. 3. Constraints K & Co Small site; Aging park amenities and facilities, including locations to be reviewed; Lawn area required to be protected for unpowered sites; Permanent tenants; and, T&S Tree risk management.

Park amenities include: Amenities Block (6 Hot Showers, 1 Washing Machine and Dryer); and, Free Dump Point. 3. Park facilities include: BBQ; R3: Annual tree supplementation and Camp kitchen; and, risk assessment Children’s playground (youth playground and recreation available across Lyle Street). Accommodation Options: 40 Powered Sites; 12 Ensuite Sites; 20 Unpowered Sites; and, 3 On Site Vans.

Park fees: Key. $25 powered; and, $10 unpowered. 1. Key Projects C / OV Cabin / Onsite Van

Proposed Projects K & Co Camp Kitchen & Covered Area

Access Routes T&S Toilet & Shower Amenities

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Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Park Concept Plan 2. Increase Lawn Area to Riverside Sites 3. Annual tree supplementation and risk assessment $$ $$ Recommendation Recommendation $ $$ A Warracknabeal Caravan Park Masterplan is to be prepared by a The opportunity to provide large lawn areas along the foreshore Recommendation qualified recreation planner to determine best uses of this valued for unpowered camp sites. This can commence on the eastern To undertake annual park tree supplementation and risk recreation reserve. The plan is to be prepared in collaboration and foreshore area including bollard protection to protect tent sites. Soil assessment pruning by qualified arborist. Aging native trees are support of the Yarriambiack Shire Council and members of the preparation, irrigation and tree pruning of these foreshore areas to be supplemented, especially along the foreshore and new trees, community who have a strong interest for improving the reserve. will be required to prepare areas for lawn. including recommended deciduous trees are to be established The masterplan brief at a minimum is to consider the following: within central sites and across the Creek Walk. Benefit Outputs: Apart from a picturesque site, shade and lawn are a major Benefit • Addressing the replacement of ageing park amenities requirement for campers. Warracknabeal Caravan Park has the The park has a strong shaded foreshore quality that requires trees and facilities – suggest central placement, close to entry, opportunity to provide the full camper experience. universally accessible and servicing the prime foreshore sites; to be managed for future benefit of locals and visitors. Endemic tree supplementation may include: • Consider the changing needs of visitors and the future Budget reducing demand for individual ensuites, especially if Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) 1. Park Concept Plan Suggested budget (including GST): White Cypress-pine (Callitris glaucophylla) amenities are upgraded and placed centrally; 2 ExampleConcept Plan: Wagga Campground, NSW • Road pavement and path rationalisation; • 100 lineal metres @ 20m wide strip 2,000m , soil prepared, Slender Cypress-pine (Callitris gracilis) Source:Brave and Curious • Catering for long vehicle drive through sites; trees pruned and in ground irrigation: $50-65k Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) • Address removal of permanent residents; Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) • Addressing the site’s landscape qualities including Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) conservation of foreshore reserve, potential flooding and area Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolate) set aside to link to foreshore walks to the town centre; • Visitor stay experience and recreation potential –zoning of Future amenity within central sites is to be established and uses; recommend using deciduous tree species within this area to • Diversity of accommodation offerings including lawn for tents provide seasonal temperature benefits. D eciduous t ree species on prime foreshore area. Cabins are not recommended, park schedule may include: to be designed for powered, unpowered and camping sites. Bradford Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana) • Wayfinding and interpretation themes - Cultural heritage Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) interpretation opportunities; Claret Ash (Fraxinus Raywood) • Expand foreshore protected lawn areas for camping and English Elm (Ulmus procera) recreation; and, Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) • The provision of cost estimated implementation staging. Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) London Plane (Platunus acerifolia) Oriental Plane (Platunus orientalis) Benefit Golden Elm (Ulmus glabra ‘Lutescens’); and, Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea). 2. Increase lawn area to riverside sites The benefits of a Warracknabeal Caravan Park Concept Plan Example lawn area - Longford Riverside Holiday Park include: Budget Source: Longford Riverside Holiday Park • A community supported long term vision for a significant Council asset on the river; Initial tree supplementation and management costs will lesson • An opportunity to reassess visitor changing needs with regard after initial management undertaken. to offering of amenities and facilities; • An opportunity to reassess the park’s value for the town and Suggested budget (including GST): changing needs; and, • Annual tree risk assessment and management pruning • The provision of costed and staged implementation as funding budget: $15-20k; and, is available. • Annual tree supplementation budget: $10-15k

Budget Suggested budget (including GST): • Concept Plan: $20k

1. Annual tree supplementation and risk assessment Example riverside vegatation Relationship with Reliability & Source: Brave and Curious Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

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Town & Tourism Strategy

Murtoa Caravan Park

0m 50m 100m 200m 400m Masterplan Park Summary

The Murtoa Caravan Park is located on the foreshore of the picturesque Lake Marma. Lake Marma, including Rabl Park provide a picturesque and recreational asset for park visitors and Murtoa community. The lake is filled as part of the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline Project and stocked with trout. A 2km walking track around the lake provides an ideal recreation and picnic spot with large lawn areas, electric BBQ’s and playground. The park is owned by the Yarriambiack Shire Council and managed by a caretaker.

The town has an active Progress Committee that provide amenities like free BBQ’s and recently in 2019 Allow access to recreation establish 3 quality short stay accommodation cabins on the foreshore (1 x one bedroom cabin & 2 x two reserve at fenceline to add bedroom cabins, 1 x queen & 1 x double bunk and all have front decks). amenity to caravan park The Caravan Park is also walking distance to the historic town that features many fine buildings and heritage precincts and streetscapes. The Railway precinct includes the railway hotel and water town museum and a heritage listed street lined with Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus). The many buildings of significance throughout town include the Sprott Fountain (1884-96), the Rotunda (1907) and Memorial Gates (1920), all located at the Lake Marma Reserve. Others are CBA Bank (1882), Railway Station (1878), Primary School (1875), Dr Rabl’s residence (1897), Marma Gully Hotel (1913) and many other private houses, churches and public institutions of the period 1880 to 1920. R2: Site Greening - trees & R1: Common Meeting Area bollards to define sites Murtoa has the regionally acclaimed ‘Stick Shed’ that was originally built for wartime emergency grain 1. storage but has become a memorial to Aussie ingenuity. It gets its name from the over 560 mountain ash 2. unmilled poles or ‘sticks’ up to 20m high that support the 260m x 60m structure and create an impression Cab Cab Cab of a vast indoor forest. Listed by Heritage Victoria because of its historical significance attraction and in T&S K & Co recognition of the State’s largest grain receival centre on the main Melbourne to Adelaide rail link. 2. R2: Site Greening Opportunities - tent sites • Picturesque lake foreshore setting; 3. • Walkable to town centre and historical attractions; and, • Connected to adjacent lake recreational facilities. R3: Buffer planting to Lake St Lake St To Town Centre & Murtoa Stick Shed Constraints • Site shade; • Visual exposure to Lake Street: and, • No central meeting area.

Park amenities include: • Amenities (Accessible Toilets, 4 Showers); • Laundry (Washing Machine, Dryer); • Dump site; and, • Potable Water.

Key. Park facilities include: • BBQ; 1. Key Projects C / OV Cabin / Onsite Van • Picnic Tables • Camp kitchen;

Proposed Projects K & Co Camp Kitchen & Covered Area Accommodation Options: Access Routes Toilet & Shower Amenities • Area for long vehicles, camper trailers; T&S • 20 Powered Sites; Powered Sites Proposed Planting - groundcover/ • 12 Unpowered Sites; and, buffer planting • 3 Cabins. Unpowered Sites Tree Planting Park fees: Tent Camping • $20 powered; and, • $10 unpowered.

Following are recommendations that align with the Wimmera Mallee regional strategy for improving Murtoa Caravan Park’s visitor experience. The strategy considers supporting the continuation to successfully host visitors through the improvement of park facilities and amenity.

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Town & Tourism Strategy

1. Common Meeting Area Prepare soil and provide in ground irrigation for foreshore lawn area.

$$ Benefit Recommendation Greening the site will help to provide a strong landscape identity Establish a common meeting area close to foreshore and park for the park, making better visitor comfort and camping amenity entry. Include information/interpretation board(s) - similar to for caravans and tent camp sites. Deciduous trees will not only Stick Shed, noting town walks, cultural and settler heritage and provide shade in summer and the warming sun in winter months environmental interpretation. but also seasonal colour.

Suggest the meeting area to be open and circular in form. Include a Budget fire pit made with local materials as sourced from the recommended Suggested budget (including GST): local Materials Palette. • 500 square metres of irrigated lawn area: $15-17k • Supply and place 72 timber bollards (including site signage): Benefit $10-12k A central meeting area will provide a central site focal point, • Supply and plant 36 semi-mature deciduous trees, including 1 encourage visitor meeting and enhancing the visitor experience. A for each cabin: $12-15k meeting place also provides opportunity to locate interpretation of 1. Common Meeting Area local and regional attractions. Example fire pit & meeting area, use local materials as per Materials Palette Source: Gardenista 3. Buffer planting to Lake St Budget $ $$ Suggested budget (including GST): • $15 - 20k including GST Recommendation Establish buffer planting to Lake Street park boundary using endemic (local native) trees and shrub groupings and mulch. 2. Shade Trees & Bollards Suggested species include: $ $$ Trees suggestions: • Bull Mallee (Eucalyptus behriana) Recommendation • Red Mallee (Eucalyptus calycogona) To establish deciduous trees, feature bollards for drive through • Kamarooka Mallee (Eucalyptus froggatti) camping sites and re-establish irrigated foreshore lawn area for • Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon pruinose) tent camping. • Blue Mallee (Eucalyptus polybractea) • Green Mallee (Eucalyptus viridis) Recommend alternate rows and species of deciduous tree planting, as follows: Shrub suggestions: • Hedge Wattle (Acacia paradoxa) 2. Site Greening • Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea) Ulmus glabra ‘Lutescens’ Golden Elm Plant 4 trees per site row and alternate species for each row. Source: Winter Hill Tree Farm Monitor tree health including watering, pruning and lifting the • River Bottlebrush (Callistemon sieberi) underside of the tree canopy 2-3m. Recommended species; • Cat’s Claw (Grevillea alpine) Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) • Goldfields Grevillea (Grevillea dryophylla) Claret Ash (Fraxinus Raywood) • Small-leaf Bluebush (Maireana brevifolia) Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) • Common Bluebush (Maireana decalvans) Golden Elm (Ulmus glabra ‘Lutescens’); and, Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea). Benefit The use of local native shrub and small mallee tree planting along Use of feature timber bollards: the Lake Street property boundary will provide a visual buffer and • Suggest using hardwood dressed sleeper bollards (angle top define the park boundary. Strong group plantings will continue to for water run-off) to protect trees and non-trafficable areas provide filtered views through to the park and lake promoting the (1.5m apart); location for potential passing visitors. • Align feature timber bollards along either side of new tree plantings for protection; and, Budget Use bollards facing the service roads to have site marker plates or Suggested budget (including GST): alternatively engrave site numbers in timber with arrows pointing to • Supply (150mm pot size), plant and mulch buffer planting to each site number (left or right). Lake Street (1000 square metres): $20-25k

3. Buffer planting to Lake St Example: Hedge Wattle (Acacia paradoxa) Relationship with Reliability & Source: Era Nurseries Regional Materials Palette Town Committees Camping Dry Lake Amenities Self Contained Town Centre Vacant Shopfront Housing Identity Aboriginal community Opportunities availability of services Opportunities Upgrade Comp. Accommodation Accommodation Installations Stock

Tertiary design Accom. Network Electric Car Open House/ Town Centre & Town Centre Town Centre Town Entry 29. school collaboration Barista Training Google Maps Touring Routes Universal Access Street Trees Entries (Tour Groups) Charging Network Garden Program Liveability Meeting Places Traffic Calming Signage