We’re seeking community feedback on the concept design for a pocket park at 7 Well Street, Brighton.

Our community showed their support for the creation of a pocket park located a short stroll from the Church Street shopping precinct through an extensive consultation process undertaken between 7 October to 7 November 2021.

Community feedback showed strong support (64%) for site to be returned to public open space.

We’ve now developed a concept plan based on the community’s preferred vision for the pocket park as passive open space, for activities such as relaxation, sitting and reading.

Council will contribute $100,000 funding towards the development of the pocket park.

This community engagement program will only consider community feedback on the design elements of the pocket park at 7 Well Street, Brighton. It does not include modifications for the use of the site. Find out more about the previous community engagement on the future use of 7 Well Street.

Environmental impacts

Establishing the site as public open space aligns with the themes and key priorities in the Bayside Community Vision 2050 to Increase and Enhance Open Space.

Social and community impacts

Community feedback showed strong support (64%) for the site to be used as public open space with a preference of a passive open space area for relaxation, sitting and reading.

Financial impacts

Council has allocated $100,000 as part of the 2022-23 budget to transform the site into a passive space for recreation that will feature landscaping, seating and soft paths.

We’re seeking feedback form the community to understand if the concept design of the pocket park for 7 Well Street, Brighton reflects the communities needs and vision for the space.

What can the community influence?

• Types of vegetation and planting locations
• Locations of seating
• The overall look and feel of the park

What can’t the community influence?

• The use of the land at 7 Well Street, which was subject to an earlier community engagement program.
• Elements within the design required to meet accessibility standards.
• Existing or new infrastructure additional to the proposed concept design, e.g. no new public lighting, playground equipment, upgrades to the path connection between the park and Church Steet.
• Budget allocated to the project.

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum

Stakeholder / community	Interest	Impact	Influence
Church Street traders	H	H	Consult
Neighbouring residents	H	H	Consult
Brighton residents	M	M	Consult
General Bayside community	L	L	Consult
Shoppers and visitors to the area (non-Bayside residents)	L	L	Consult

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought. The impact of COVID-19 restricts our ability for face-to-face communication, as well as slower distribution of printed mail.

Key tools for communicating the project

• Email notification to Have Your Say members and 7 Well Street project subscribers
• Website news story and This Week in Bayside e-newsletter
• Social media posts

• Letters to neighbouring residents and local traders

• Direct emails to key stakeholder groups, including Church Street Traders Association
• Large scale site signage
• Digital screens at the Corporate Centre and Brighton Library

Key methods for gathering feedback

• Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback
• Phone, postal and email correspondence.

Timeline:
Community engagement – Support for idea	Complete	7 October - 7 November 2021 Understand community support for the proposal. Council considered community feedback and decided to create a pocket park at its December 21 meeting.
Community engagement – Concept designs	Active	16 January – 13 February 2023 Community feedback from this phase will be considered by Council Officers to guide the detailed design
Detailed design	Incomplete	March – April 2023 A detailed design will be created incorporating feedback from the community based on the concept design
Construction	Incomplete	From mid-2023

Council considered community feedback from the first phase of consultation, together with a report on the proposed future use of 7 Well Street, Brighton at its December 21 meeting. At this meeting, Council decided to allocate 7 Well Street, Brighton as a permanent location for passive public open space, designed as a passive area for relaxation with appropriate landscaping, seating and soft paths.

This second phase of community engagement will focus on the concept design to ensure the space at 7 Well Street reflects community needs and expectations, as articulated through the first phase of engagement.

Community feedback from this phase of engagement and the next steps for the project are expected to be considered by Council Officers and consultants, including landscape architects in March-April 2023.

Following this, a detailed design of the pocket park will be completed, and it is expected that construction will commence in mid-2023.

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More information

Paul Gibbs

Open Space Coordinator - Open Space, Recreation and Wellbeing

T: 03 9599 4735
E: pgibbs@bayside.vic.gov.au