Anglesea Community and Health Hub Precinct Plan

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People who live, love, work and play in Anglesea are invited to provide feedback on a draft precinct plan, which reimagines how the town’s McMillan Street hub can be designed to better meet the needs of the community.

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Above: render of the eastern elevation of the proposed Community and Health Hub building. The existing Memorial Hall is shown on the right.

View the draft precinct plan

You can view the summary of the Anglesea Community and Health Hub Draft Precinct Plan(PDF, 12MB), or the full draft precinct plan(PDF, 39MB).

Complete the survey online

What is the preferred option in the draft precinct plan?

  • A two-storey integrated community and health hub building fronting McMillan Street. The design concept is an integrated building, with the community hub and health functions hub to be separate with their own entrances and fit-for-purpose spaces.
  • The medical and health hub’s ground floor would service Anglesea Medical Centre and Council’s Child and Family Health service. The first floor would service Barwon Health and provide clinical spaces.
  • The community hub’s ground floor would consist of the kindergarten, occasional care and playgroup room, and provide space for some Anglesea Community House reception and some of their functions. The first floor would serve the wider community, being home to the majority of services and programs provided by the community house and auspice groups. As well as the administration and education functions of local environmental champions Angair, the historical society, and senior citizens centre.
  • Sitting behind the integrated hub are nature play spaces for occasional care and kindergarten a bush kinder play space and a ‘green heart’ - a public community space for events, activities and informal gathering.
  • The Community Garden and Ambulance Victoria sites, will be retained, as will Anglesea Memorial Hall, the Angair propagation shed and Rangi Marie - the home of Anglesea and District Historical Society.
  • No service, program, event, trees or parking spaces will be lost from the site.
  • Five townhouses and 14 apartments at the rear of the site will help address the key worker accommodation crisis.

How to have your say 

  • Complete this survey online. If you would like a hard copy of the survey, please let us know.
  • Email feedback or a submission to: info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
  • Mail feedback or a submission to: Surf Coast Shire Council, PO Box 350 Torquay VIC 3228
  • Drop in your feedback or submission to Council office: 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay.
  • We also held an Open Day event on 17 November. Thanks to those who attended.

Feedback closes December 9 2023.

About the precinct and project

The McMillan Street precinct is important for the Anglesea community.

The precinct currently delivers a range of community services and programs and several of the buildings have been found to be failing or nearing the end of their structural life.

Additionally, many businesses in Anglesea are unable to attract and retain workers due to a lack of affordable accommodation. There have been many recent examples of businesses either closing or operating with reduced staff or for reduced hours. This adds to the pressures facing businesses and impacts the services available for residents and visitors. 

Council has secured a state investment of $200,000 to undertake a major integrated planning project that will enable Council and the community to reimagine the purpose and use of the precinct and plan for a sustainable community and health precinct of multi-service, multi-agency and multi-functional places and spaces that will meet the needs of Anglesea residents, workers and businesses now and into the future.

This project aims to deliver a community-endorsed precinct plan and funding strategy for future investment attraction. 

Preferred option 

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Existing layout of Anglesea Community and Health Hub

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Map key: 1. Anglesea Maternal Child Health, 2. Anglesea Kindergarten, 3. Anglesea Toy Library, 4. Anglesea Memorial Hall, 5. Memorial Hall Youth Room, 6. Angair (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Preservation of Flora and Fauna, 7. Anglesea Senior Citizens Club, 8. Anglesea Medical Centre, 9. Anglesea Community Hall, 10. Barwon Health, 11. Ambulance Victoria, 12. Anglesea Historical Society - ‘Rangi Marie’, 13. Anglesea Community Garden. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why is Council undertaking a precinct plan for McMillan Street?

Facility audits and multi-agency discussions have identified that some buildings are showing signs of failure and that there is some duplication of current services and programs across facilities. The Department of Jobs Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) Investment Fast Track funding provides the opportunity to improve the integration and functionality of key health, education and community services and test a model of the inclusion of an affordable housing development for key workers within the precinct.

Q. Why consider including affordable housing for key workers in the precinct?

Many businesses in Anglesea are unable to attract and retain workers due to a lack of affordable accommodation. Many employees have to make lengthy commutes to their jobs in Anglesea. Businesses who cannot find staff are having to reduce their hours of operation which impacts their income and makes it harder for residents to access a range of shops and services locally.

Key workers provide vital services to the community in services like health, education, community safety, etc. as well as services to residents and visitors that are important for the local economy in sectors such as retail, hospitality accommodation, etc.

Key workers typically earn low to moderate incomes and are frequently required to work outside of regular business hours or be available at short notice.

Q. What level of influence will community have?

There are community representatives at each level of the governance structure including the Project Control Group, Project Steering Group and Community Reference Group and community members will have the chance to provide input during each phase of the project. This includes initial community engagement activities that aim to understand infrastructure and service needs and preferences. 

The Draft Precinct Plan was informed by extensive engagement with community, stakeholders and Traditional Owners. This opening phase of consultation consisted of:

  • Walk on Country with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
  • Two community drop-ins capturing input from 46 attendees.
  • Eight meetings with representatives from two Project Reference Groups - health services, facility managers and precinct users.
  • A survey (online and hard copy options) capturing input from 125 respondents.

The second phase of engagement invites feedback until 29 November 2023. You can have your say by:

  • Attending the Open Day on 17 November and provide feedback
  • Completing this survey online. If you would like a hard copy of the survey, please let us know.
  • Emailing feedback or comments to: info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
  • Mailing feedback to: Surf Coast Shire Council, PO Box 350 Torquay VIC 3228
  • Dropping in your feedback to Council office: 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay.

The draft plan is open for community feedback which will help us progress to an updated draft plan and cost plan. A final community-endorsed precinct plan and funding strategy would then be used to attract future investment to bring the plan to life.

Q. Who will represent the community’s diverse range of interests and experiences?

Anglesea Community and Health Hub (ACHH) land owners and their lessees, auspice groups, etc., service/program providers, ACHH users and broader community.

Q. Why this site?

The precinct planning process will enable a transformative placemaking and infrastructure project that will improve the integration and functionality of key health, education and community services at this vital community hub; and test a model for the inclusion of affordable housing for key workers, supporting employment and the local and regional economy.

The Council and Barwon Health owned site is large – approx. 14,000m2. It is within the settlement boundaries, it is partially zoned residential and any proposed community, health and housing facilities would be developed to be consistent with the character of surrounding built form. Additionally, the site is close to shops and services, employment hubs, open green space and public transport.

Q. What will the community engagement inform?

 Among other aspects of the precinct planning process, community engagement will provide input on:

  • The needs and aspirations of all precinct service providers and users
  • Management and delivery models
  • Master planning of infrastructure and open space requirements, their integration and their connection to external enablers, for example transport.

Q. What did the first phase of engagement tell you?

The findings of the first phase of community engagement, along with a site and service criticality assessments, have been captured in the Anglesea Community and Health Hub Situation Analysis. The Situation Analysis (accessed via the document library section below) has informed the development of the draft precinct plan.

Q. What will the process deliver and how long will it take?

We aim to have a community-endorsed precinct plan, funding strategy and implementation plan to submit to the Department of Jobs Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) in early 2024. 

Q. What is the difference between social and affordable housing?

• Affordable housing is a broad term which includes social housing.

• The term social housing includes public housing, which is state owned and managed housing, and community housing.

• Community housing is housing provided by a registered housing agency or association registered under the Housing Act 1983, or a community housing provider.

• Both social and affordable housing build in, to differing extents, elements of eligibility and subsidy usually set through government policy.

Q. Who would be eligible to live in the affordable housing?  

Local housing need will inform the design of the affordable housing development, as well as key aspects of its management, such as eligibility and level of subsidy.

A starting point for exploration of eligibility and subsidy would be Homes Victoria’s Affordable Housing Rental Scheme [link: Affordable Housing Rental Scheme | Homes Victoria] In regional Victoria, eligibility for an Affordable Housing Rental Scheme (AHRS) property includes being a worker in an essential government funded service’.  People working as nurses, police, teachers and care workers and earning under the specified income threshold would be eligible for AHRS housing.

However, it is worth noting that 35% (approx. 3,300) of jobs in the Surf Coast Shire are based in tourism. Hospitality, accommodation and retail businesses are among those industries experiencing the most severe workforce shortages.

Q. How would you ensure that the affordable housing is only for key workers? 

While the delivery and management model for the affordable housing for key workers is still be investigated, Council will seek to partner with an entity legally able to manage affordable housing. Affordable Housing, defined under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 Section 3, is housing that is affordable, ie, no more than 30% of the income, to low and moderate earning households.

The Planning and Environment Act doesn’t define ‘key worker’. Key workers are often described as an employee who provides a vital service, especially in the essential services, health, or education sectors. However, in our region the definition encompasses a range of occupations including providers of services to residents such as including teachers, doctors, nurses, health care workers, pharmacists and council staff; as well as providers of services to visitors including hospitality, tourism, retail workers; and workers in key local industries including agriculture and renewable energy, forestry, mining and construction.

Q. Is the proposed area for affordable housing zoned appropriately?

The current zoning for the site allows for residential development and community and health facilities. Once a concept plan is finalised the appropriate process for planning approval will be determined.  

 

 

Situation Analysis - document library

The Situation Analysis (Tract et al) is informed by a number of site investigations in regards to cultural heritage, planning, key worker housing, transport and trees and vegetation. The Situational Analysis is also informed by the results of community engagement held in March. Community engagement activities included an online and hard copy survey, two on-site drops-in, a series of focus groups and interviews with health service providers, facilities managers and precinct users. 

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-Acknowledgement-and-Contents.pdf(PDF, 3MB)

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-1.-Introduction.pdf(PDF, 2MB)

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-2.-Site.pdf(PDF, 6MB)

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-3.-Strategic-Context.pdf(PDF, 10MB)

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-4.-Site-Analysis.pdf(PDF, 17MB)

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-5.-Engagement.pdf(PDF, 7MB)

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-6.-Key-Worker-Housing.pdf(PDF, 3MB)

Precinct-Situation-Analysis-7.-Key-Challenges-and-Opportunities.pdf(PDF, 4MB)

Project summary and community engagement summary - opening phases

Thank-you to everyone who provided input into the Anglesea Community and Health Hub precinct planning process so far. Community input including a Walk on Country with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and interviews with health service providers, facility managers and precinct users, along with an analysis of site conditions, natural and heritage assets, planning provisions, etc. has informed the development of a Situation Analysis – the primary output of phase two of this project. See below for project phases.

PHASE 2 - SITUATION ANALYSIS

The Situation Analysis tables the key challenges and opportunities associated with reimagining the Anglesea Community and Health Hub. The Situation Analysis was informed by:

  • Site visit and desktop analysis and mapping including site history and heritage, mature trees and vegetation
  • Engagement with Traditional Owners
  • Strategic context review, i.e. endorsed strategies and plans

Engagement with community (survey + drop-ins) and health service providers, facility managers and precinct users (interviews).

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Forty-six people participated in one of the drop-in sessions and 125 people (121 online + 4 via hard copy) completed the survey. From the survey, we learned what respondents thought was currently working well, what was not working quite so well and what, in their ideal precinct, they would like to see.

Top 3 ‘working well’ (% of respondents):

     79% Range of community services + programs

     75% Natural environment (trees, plants, etc.)

     56% Ease of driving + parking

Top 3 ‘not working well’ (% of respondents):

     64% Condition of the buildings

     45% Sustainable design of buildings

     56% Quality of open space to sit + gather

Top 3 ‘ideal precinct, very valuable attributes’:

     #1  Health services + programs

     #2  Community services + programs

     #3  Nestled in the natural environment

Much lower down the list, 60% of respondents thought that the inclusion of some appropriately located and well designed affordable housing for people who work locally would be a valuable (very + somewhat value) feature of an ideal community and health hub.

More detailed findings from the survey and drop-in conversations can be found in Chapter 5 of the Situation Analysis

OPPORTUNITIES + CHALLENGES

The Situation Analysis has identified opportunities to enhance the setting, both heritage and natural aspects. The location of development should, for example, protect high value vegetation. Landscaping should also use local plants to enhance open spaces + pedestrian connections. There is a related opportunity to create a public space at the heart of the precinct and a north-south ‘green spine’ and east-west pedestrian links. Vehicular access and the interface with residential areas represent some of the challenges to be resolved. The full Situation Analysis can be found on Anglesea Community and Health Hub Precinct Plan - Surf Coast Shire under ‘document library’.

NEXT STEPS

Council will meet with community and agency stakeholders to review and refine the component and layout options. Our consultants will then develop a master plan of all elements including buildings, services, connections, pathways, roads and vehicle storage, landscaping, open space, etc. Our consultants will also begin to develop a proposed management and delivery model to operationalise the precinct.

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