Expressions of Interest

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

This is the Brief for a Creative Consultant to develop a ‘design language’ and to plan the ‘features’ which will facilitate the interpretation and use of a Township Walking Trail

Lismore Victoria 3324

1. INTRODUCTION

Lismore is the centre of a small vibrant community with a rich natural and cultural history. The township is on the Hamilton Highway, two hours west of Melbourne, and a popular stopping point for motorists.

The town is nestled into the western basalt plains, alongside a creek, and now surrounded by farming land. It was known as Bongerimennin to the indigenous people, and Brown’s Waterholes to early settlers. It was renamed Lismore in 1853. Its landmarks include one of the state’s oldest bluestone chapels, a reminder of early Scottish settlement.

The Lismore Community wishes to interpret the town environs and history in the form of a Discovery Trail for use by both the Lismore Community and visitors to the town.

The Lismore Progress Association with its Community Reference Group is seeking a suitably experienced and qualified creative consultant to work with the community in the development of a ’design language’ and ‘features’ to facilitate the use and interpretation of the Lismore Discovery Trail.

2. SCOPE OF WORKS:

The Discovery Trail will be within the township and surrounds of Lismore. It will be used by pedestrians, cyclists, gophers, wheelchairs and people with prams. It will follow existing paths and roads and include a yet-to-be-constructed walkway across the local creek, Browns Water Holes.

The trail will include features which aid the interpretation of the environment and history of Lismore, including the geology and landforms, the flora & fauna, aboriginal history and white settlement history. The natural ‘centre’ or ‘meeting place’ for the trail will be next to Brown’s Water Holes, the creek on the north- west boundary of the township. This is a level area where aspects of the main historic themes intersect.

The Discovery Trail will link parts of the town together: the under-road walkway, shopping areas, playground, swimming pool, toilets, cemetery and parkland. It may be appropriate to have more than one branch of the ‘walking trail’ of up to 3 to 4 km in length.

The Creative Consultant will

1. Create a design language which reflects the natural environment, the history of the town and the nature of the community. This design language will be applied to features planned and developed for the trail. It will be able to be used by the community to guide future additions to the trail or other town features, for example a town entrance.

2. Design ‘features’ for the Discovery Trail will facilitate the interactive use of the Trail and the interpretation of the area for both the local community and visitors. A key feature will be the ‘meeting place’ for the Trail, next to Brown’s Waterhole. It is anticipated that some designed features will allow community participation in their construction or installation. The committee has an additional modest budget which will be used to construct some features immediately, others will be constructed over time. 3. Work with community by:  referring to already developed community resources;  meeting with the committee for a site visit;  facilitating a community workshop for the community to (i) share their insights as to what is important to the town and the uses of the Trail with each other, (ii) express these to the consultant, (iii) learn of creative and practical opportunities for design and community-led approaches from other communities.  responding to community input creatively with a design language, design of features, and opportunities to be involved, to reflect and add to their input  and so incorporate the (consultant’s) creativity and experience into the interpretation of community input  presenting the resulting design language and design features to the community at a meeting and though the local newsletter and website

4. Prepare a report with a ‘design story’, design language, and features folio to be presented to the committee

It is anticipated that as a result of the design and features plan, selected structures designed by the consultant will be installed by the committee, for example

 interpretation materials, interactive where appropriate  subtle and creative way-finding indicators and  seating

These structures will be designed to be value for money, low maintenance and non-intrusive, and fit the ‘feel’ of the town. The consultant will draw up a program to show possible staging of installation of structures

3. RESOURCES AVAILABLE INCLUDE:  A Quick Guide Corangamite Shire Walking Tracks Pg 10 (attached)  Insights from a previous Creative Village project (Refer A.Lang and J.Talbot);  The Landscape Plan of Lismore (P.Jellie):  DLCA History Group resources as requested  Walking group experience  Maps of the town area, including with historic areas identified

4. OUTCOMES  A Lismore Discovery Trail which community members and visitors will want to use (to picnic, walk, cycle and learn) and to return to.  It will reflect community values and look natural: be welcoming and help people to enjoy the area.  An opportunity for greater understanding of the history and geology of Browns Water Holes, the Boomerang Ridge, the township and surrounding area.  It will be user friendly, so people stop for longer times, look forward to stopping and visit the shops.  There will be community input into the design and content of the Trail  There will be community participation in aspects of ‘construction’ of the Trail and interpretation material ( eg from Men’s Shed, School and others)  Any signage will be well designed and not intrusive (directions may later be supported by a map and a brochure)  This work will set the ‘tone and direction’ for any future work in the town. And may inform the future design of town entrances

5. FOUR MEETINGS WITH THE CREATIVE CONSULTANT

The Progress Association’s Community Reference Group will work with the consultant to confirm dates and times for meetings. The Reference group will promote meetings to the community and invite participation.

The consultant will meet with:

1. The Community Reference Group  Initial site visit and discussion with Community Reference Group

2. The wider community (input)  To provide professional support to community input into the design and content of the plan. It is envisaged this will occur at a community meeting with the venue and catering provided by the Community Reference Group. The consultant will be responsive to the community input, ideas and desires

3. The wider community (presentation)  To obtain a community review of preliminary concept drawings. At a community meeting although it may be appropriate to accept/encourage written feedback

4. The Community Reference Group  The Community reference group will respond to the final draft plan, identify, discuss and agree any adjustments, and recommend its endorsement by the Progress Association and The Shire

6. PROJECT CONTROL

The Project is auspiced by the Shire of Corangamite and coordinated by the Lismore Progress Association through its Community Reference Group.

Project Coordination: day to day control & all enquiries directed to  Garry Moorfield, Corangamite Shire for contractual, financial and auspice issues  Val Lang, President Progress Association, for community input issues

Project Community Reference Group composition:  Lismore Progress Association  Lismore and District Lions  Lismore Community Health and Lismore Heart Foundation and Community Walking Group  Men’s Shed  DLCA History Group  Lismore Primary School  Shire Support Person

7. THE RESPONSE TO THIS BRIEF:

With the response to this brief we are seeking a project plan that will include  Four meetings in Lismore: one Initial site visit with the Reference Group, two community consultation meetings, and a final meeting with the Reference Group  Community consultation to inform preparation of concept sketches/design/plan  Delivery of initial concept drawings /sketches to community and feedback  Development of detailed design plans for trail interpretation and features.  A timeline to show possible staging of installation of structures, The immediate budget for ‘features’ will be in the order $10,000 plus GST  The budget for the consultant is $15,000 plus GST

8. THE FEE FOR THE CREATIVE CONSULTANT IS $15,000 PLUS GST

9. PROJECT SCHEDULE Date Activity Status 16 May 2015 Advertisement Newspapers, Website, SW Arts Atlas, LA journal 23 May 2015 Advertisement Newspapers, Website, SW Arts Atlas, LA journal 30 May 2015 Advertisement Newspapers, Website, SW Arts Atlas, LA journal 5 June 1015 Closing date for acceptance of EOI’s 10 June 1015 Shortlisting of three prospective consultants 16 June 2015 Interviews at Lismore Victoria 19 June 2015 Appointment/ Signing of Contract 22 June 2015 Notification to RDV: Project Commencement By 30 June 2015

1 July 2015 Project Reference Group meeting Briefing to Creative Consultant and detailed site inspection 15 July 2015 Community meeting Presentation of community advice/ ideas 26 August 2015 Community meeting Review of preliminary concepts 16 September 2015 Project Reference Group meeting Response to revised concepts and final plan 21 September 2015 Referral to Corangamite Shire 28 September 2015 Recommendation to Lismore Progress Association 1 October to Implementation of project elements By 31 December 31 December 2015 2015 25 January 2015 Project Acquittal 31 January 2015 Project Completed By 31 January 2016

10. SELECTION CRITERIA

Criteria Weighting Creativity, evidence of design to suit its space/situation 25% Demonstrated performance with community consultation 25% Demonstrated performance similar project eg in design and/or 30% planning and/or or scale Ability to deliver within specified time and budget 20%

You are asked to

 Respond to the selection criteria

 Responses should include examples of previous works and their relevant costs

 As part of the response to this brief it is critical that an itemised ‘quotation’ be provided demonstrating how the deliverables for this project can be achieved with the provided fee ( refer to the request for a project plan at above item No.7)

 The three short listed consultants will be interviewed at a meeting with the selection committee ( Project Reference Group) as it determines the successful consultant

 The fee shall be inclusive of all costs associated with the undertaking of the project including but not limited to design, working drawings, time, travel and accommodation

11. ENQUIRIES DIRECTED TO:

Garry Moorfield

12 CLOSING DATE AND TIME

 Close of Business Friday 5th June 2015

13. SUBMISSIONS ADDRESSED TO:

Garry Moorfield