January 2013 TCA GROUND MASTER PLAN Prepared for the Hobart City Council TCA GROUND MASTER PLAN prepared for Hobart City Council Inspiring Place Pty Ltd Environmental Planning, Landscape Architecture, Tourism & Recreation 210 Collins St Hobart TAS 7000 T: 03) 6231-1818 E: [email protected] ACN 58 684 792 133 Date Version 25.06.12 Draft to Council for review 10.07.12 Revised draft for Council meeting 29.01.13 Final report following consultation CONTENTS Summary 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose...................................................................................................................3 1.3 Study Area ..............................................................................................................3 1.4 Approach.................................................................................................................4 1.5 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................5 2 Place Values ...........................................................................................................................7 2.1 Physical Values........................................................................................................7 2.2 Cultural Values.........................................................................................................8 2.2.1 Historical Values .....................................................................................8 2.2.2 Current Use.............................................................................................11 2.3 Economic Values ....................................................................................................15 2.4 Significance.............................................................................................................15 3 Context...................................................................................................................................17 3.1 Integration with the Draft Queens Domain Master Plan..........................................17 3.2 Trends in Sport and Recreation ..............................................................................19 3.3 Views of Stakeholders.............................................................................................21 3.3.1 Key Issues...............................................................................................21 3.3.2 Potential Opportunities............................................................................24 4 The Master Plan.....................................................................................................................26 4.1 The Vision ...............................................................................................................26 4.1.1 Queens Domain ......................................................................................26 4.1.2 TCA Ground ............................................................................................27 4.2 TCA Ground Master Plan........................................................................................27 4.2.1 Upgrade the Arrival and Entry Experience..............................................28 4.2.2 Improve Public Safety .............................................................................31 4.2.3 Revitalise the Southern End of the Ground.............................................31 4.2.4 Support the Cultural Heritage Landscape ...............................................32 4.2.5 Improve the Public Amenity ....................................................................33 4.2.6 Reduce the Maintenance Costs ..............................................................34 4.3 Fostering Future Use Opportunities ........................................................................34 4.3.1 Sporting Use ...........................................................................................34 4.3.2 Community Use.......................................................................................37 5 Five Year Action PLan ..........................................................................................................39 5.1 Priorities ..................................................................................................................39 5.1.1 Short-term Priorities ................................................................................40 5.1.2 Longer-term Priorities..............................................................................41 Attachment 1 Summary of ABS Trends INfluencing Sport and Recreation ........................43 Attachment 2 Concept Plans for New Spectator Stand.........................................................49 S UMMARY C ONTEXT AND V ALUES The TCA Ground is centrally located in the Queens Domain, and is one of a collection of sporting facilities forming a distinct precinct within the park. The Ground has been used for sporting and recreational purposes since the 1860’s and the layout of the Ground and its historically significant buildings retain the character of the Victorian/Federation period. The Ground hosted state level cricket for many years, being the premier facility until state level matches were transferred to Bellerive Oval in 1987. Today, the Ground is the home base of the Hobart Football Club, North Hobart Cricket Club, Tasmanian Cricket Centre, Tasmanian Football Umpires Association and the Hobart City Band. The Queens Domain Cultural Heritage Management Plan 2002, states that the TCA Ground and associated structures are of a national level of significance. The Ground and associated structures are also considered to be of local and state significance. There are a range of social values associated with the past and present use of the TCA Ground, for both sporting competition and community events. These values help to distinguish the TCA Ground as having a range of qualities that differentiate it from many other sports venues. These qualities include the parkland setting (being located within the Queens Domain Park), the cultural heritage values that provide an attractive ambience (e.g. existing buildings and the picket fence around the oval), and the panoramic views from the venue across the City and Derwent River. These qualities contribute to the overall cultural heritage values of the Queens Domain and provide insight into the historic use of the Domain for sporting activities. P URPOSE AND V I S I O N The purpose of the master plan is to define the future direction for the TCA Ground and its associated historic facilities, in order to guide future development and management. More specifically the master plan is to recognise the TCA Ground as one of Hobart’s premier sporting facilities and its potential to allow complementary ancillary uses that will enhance the TCA Ground’s role as a community complex and important civic space for Hobart. Fundamental to the project is the need to ensure that the character and heritage values are conserved, maintained and enhanced. The TCA Ground master plan will be integrated with a master plan being prepared for the whole of the Queens Domain. ii Draft TCA Ground Master Plan It is recommended that the vision within the draft Queens Domain Master Plan 2012 be embraced for the TCA Ground, that being: The Queens Domain shall be a park for the people that celebrates and protects its significant natural landscape and rich cultural history whilst providing for the education, recreation, health and enjoyment of its visitors. However it is important that the overall identity of the TCA ground be recognised and embraced within the TCA Ground master plan. The intention is to enhance the village character of the TCA Ground – that of a historic country cricket ground. This approach is based on the TCA Ground being a rare and largely intact example of a major Victorian era sportsground combined with the need to meet contemporary civic space needs. T HE M A S T E R P L A N The master plan for the TCA Ground addresses a range of issues and opportunities for the future planning, development and management of the Ground. A number of issues were identified during discussions with the key stakeholders. These issues related to the existing use of the land and facilities outside the TCA Ground, the condition of the buildings and facilities within the TCA Ground and the use of the oval. A range of potential opportunities were identified – mostly to do with removing redundant building structures, upgrading public access and facilities within the Ground. The key features of the draft master plan include: upgrading the arrival and entry experience to the Ground including improving safety and efficiency of parking and vehicular movement; improving public safety and pedestrian movement; revitalising the public space and facilities at the southern end of the Ground; maintaining and enhancing the cultural heritage landscape values of the Ground; improving the public amenity both inside and outside of the Ground; and reducing the maintenance costs. Summary…..iii One of the key recommendations in the master plan is to instigate a number of improvements to the southern end of the ground through: re-alignment of Davies Avenue to create a more efficient and attractive