warrnambool foreshore framework plan

​Warrnambool is a coastal city that has significant scenic and environmental value but like many Australian coastal towns it has a legacy of disconnected actions framed by settlement, industry, coastal adjustment of estuarine and tidal systems and resultant ongoing management issues. Through history, actions have been framed by disregard for Traditional Owners custodianship, impacting significantly, where what should have been a light touch has been destructive.

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The project offered the opportunity to enact and build on the ‘Siting and Design Guidelines for Structures on the Victorian Coast’ document (authored by REALMstudios) and as part of that process to open up the dialogue between Council and Eastern Marr TOs, a dialogue that had been missing to that point. The Siting and Design Guidelines provided a blueprint of sorts for the reconsideration of the foreshore and its values. The resultant actions and plan sought to draw together a series of seemingly disparate elements: coastal processes, projected impacts of storm surge/sea-level rise, coastal ecologies, tourism, safety and management, to work toward an integrated and sustainable outcome. The final plan outlined a series of key moves and strategic interventions to be implemented over three phases spanning from 2025 to 2040 and beyond:

1. Vegetation Management: Staged approach to improve biodiversity and habitat, enhance views, and increase safety.

2. Surf Life Saving Club Redevelopment: Integrate with a proposed community hub with a reduced footprint.

3. Community Hub Development: Establish a flexible community space at the heart of the foreshore facing north, protected from prevailing winds, accommodating events and boosting the local economy.

4. Elevated Boardwalk System: Improve accessibility, views and safety and at the same time promote critter movement/habitat through connected underlying vegetation.

5. Seabath Construction: Provide protected swimming access in the longer term and develop a management/micro-economy opportunity for seaweed reprocessing.

6. Harbour Precinct Redevelopment: Transform the area into a highly used activity node: marine activites, reduced hard surfacing, increased vegetation coverage.

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Contributing to the success of the project was a ground up process where our team took a three dimensional approach to problem solving and visualisation through integrated sketching, modelling and drone photography, ultimately providing an accessible and clear communicative engagement process and document. The Framework Plan introduced a series of digestible phases that built back from the future vision and which allowed the community to contemplate a future place. Its staged management of key coastal/dunal processes and vegetation, achieved increased biodiversity and habitat opportunities and at the same time improved access, safety, and viewlines.