Hobsons Bay City Council 14 July 2015 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda 11. In Camera Report Kororoit Creek Trail Hobsons Bay City Council 14 July 2015 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Confidential 11.2 Kororoit Creek Trail Directorate: Infrastructure and City Services Appendix: Attached Purpose To provide Council with a status report on the development of the Kororoit Creek Trail including the design and construction challenges, proposed budgetary implications and to seek endorsement on the planned approach. Recommendation That Council: 1. Acknowledge that the two Heads of Agreement between Council and Toyota Australia are under negotiation and it is anticipated these agreements will be endorsed by mid July with the intent to publicly announce the commitment towards the design and construction of the trail at the Kororoit Creek Community Planting Day on 26 July 2015. 2. Refer an amount of $900,000 to the long term capital works program for 2016/2017 and $300,000 in 2017-18 for stage 1 works noting that this financial commitment is required to support the National Stronger Regions Funding application. 3. Refer an amount of $1,700,000 to the long term capital works program for 2018/2019 and $1,700,000 in 2019-20 for stages 3 - 5 noting that this financial commitment is required to support the funding application to the National Stronger Regions Fund. 4. Submit the National Stronger Regions Funding application under Round 2 for submission to the Federal Government by 31 July 2015 seeking $6,700,000 being the maximum 50 per cent contribution available under this program. 5. Support commencement of formal negotiations for the two parcels of private land required for the trail alignment in Brooklyn and Altona North. 6. Support a political advocacy approach to the state government to seek project funding. 7. Support the advocacy to both Transurban and state government that should the Western Distributor proceed, design and construct of the trail be included in the freeway widening project on Council’s behalf specifically for Stage 1. Summary The development of the Kororoit Creek Trail will enable access for cyclists and pedestrians to a unique environment that has previously been inaccessible. This trail will provide a range of environmental, economic and social benefits for Hobsons Bay through local and visitor participation. The design development and construction of the trail poses a range of challenges due to the topography in specific locations, national rail, gas and oil lines crossing the trail alignment and flood level requirements. In March 2014 a report to Council confirmed the trail development was feasible but costly. To achieve the trail development Council is reliant on Hobsons Bay City Council 14 July 2015 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Confidential external funding through private, state and federal government funding and at this time such external government funding is not confirmed. Council is well positioned to continue the design development and advocate to state and federal government the importance of this project to the region to seek funding support. Background The attached discussion paper to this report details the progress of the design development for the trail and specifically references challenges within Stages 1 and 4 which can be overcome through compromise in engineering solutions and management of identified risks. Discussion The current project is estimated to cost $13,365,900 and currently Council has an in-principle agreement with Toyota Australia pertaining to a contribution of $2,500,000 of which $400,000 is committed to public art. A contribution to the project under the Federal Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund would be capped at no more than 50 per cent of the project costs therefore Council will need to source other funding and also contribute financially. Should Council be successful in its Federal Government application, the eligibility requirement is that the project will be completed by December 2019. Strategic Alignment The Kororoit Creek Trail aligns directly with the following Council objectives and goals: Goal 1: An Inclusive, Resilient and Healthy Community 1.4 Provide a range of opportunities that support people to engage in healthy and active lifestyles, the arts, recreation and sport. Goal 2: A Well Planned, Vibrant and Sustainable Place 2.4 Plan for a well designed urban environment and public spaces that contribute to the life of the city. Goal 3: Quality Community Infrastructure and Public Open Spaces and Places 3.1 Protect and enhance our coastal environment, public open space network and natural areas. Goal 4: An Innovative, Proactive and Leading Organisation 4.2 Understand community needs, advocate and partner with others for the benefit of the municipality, especially in relation to children and young people. This project is also directly aligned with Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy, the Open Space Strategy (currently under development) and the Integrated Transport Plan (currently under development). Policy The trail development is consistent with Council Policy and will be designed and constructed in accordance with respective land authority policy requirements, specifically Melbourne Water. Hobsons Bay City Council 14 July 2015 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Confidential Legal/Statutory Obligations/Risk There are various approval obligations for the design and construction of the trail, specifically in response to Melbourne Water requirements. Melbourne Water is a key stakeholder in this project and continues to support the project. As detailed in the attached report Melbourne Water have provided both in-principle and confirmed approval on various stages and elements of the project. Financial and Resource Implications The financial model for this project is detailed in the attached discussion paper and is based on the proposed total cost $13,365,900. Environmental/Social/Economic Impacts The trail development is expected to attract 260,000 users each year with an estimated 52,000 visitors from outside the region and 78,000 from surrounding municipalities. Twenty- four jobs in the first year of construction are expected to be generated with 18 in the second year. The trail is also expected to address the social and health disadvantage in the surrounding communities. Consultation and Communication Since the development of the Kororoit Creek Strategic Plan consultation and engagement has been undertaken and continues to be undertaken as the trail design and development progresses. Specific local community groups such as the Friends of the Lower Kororoit Creek have been actively involved in the project, expressing their support to the project and undertaking various volunteer activities that contribute to the long term plan for the Creek. The draft project governance structure is attached to this report. Officer Declaration of Conflict of Interest Section 80C of the Local Government Act 1989 requires members of Council staff and persons engaged under contract to provide advice to the Council, to disclose any direct or indirect interest in a matter to which the advice relates. Council officers involved in the preparation of this report have no conflict of interest in this matter. Hobsons Bay City Council 14 July 2015 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Confidential Appendix Kororoit Creek Trail Discussion Paper Kororoit Creek Trail Stages 1 - 5 1. Executive Summary Connected shared pathways throughout Hobsons Bay are vital to encourage and support participation in cycling and walking by residents and visitors travelling in and around Hobsons Bay. Continuous off-road shared pathways are preferred where possible to reduce on-road safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists and to encourage active participation for all. The proposed Kororoit Creek Shared Trail is the most significant gap in the current provision of shared trails in Hobsons Bay and a high priority within the western metropolitan regional network of shared trails. The proposed trail would provide a valuable off-road connection aligned north south through Hobsons Bay. This trail would establish a central link within Hobsons Bay which would connect with the Federation Trail to the north to the Coastal Trail to the south. Indirectly the existing Laverton and Skeleton Creek Trails would also link to the Kororoit Creek Trail via the Coastal Trail. Once completed, it is anticipated that the Kororoit Creek Trail will attract 52,000 visitors to Hobsons Bay and will provide a range of economic and social benefits to the immediate Hobsons Bay community as further detailed in this report. Council together with a range of stakeholders, including Melbourne Water and the Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek continue to progress the commitment to establish the Kororoit Creek Trail. The topography of the trail alignment together with existing rail, gas and road infrastructure along the proposed alignment result in a range of complex challenges to realise the project. In March 2014 Council received a report confirming that the development of the trail was feasible however very costly. Early in 2015 Toyota Australia entered into discussions with Council regarding the opportunity to contribute funding by way of legacy to the local community following the imminent closure of the Altona plant. These discussions resulted in an in- principle agreement that Toyota Australia would contribute $2,100,000 towards the design and construction of Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Kororoit Creek Trail (and $400,000 to public art on the