Sustaining the environment goes beyond natural assets and includes built forms such as urban streetscapes and public places. Recognising this, Council continued to guide the development of key activity, retail and cultural precincts as part of a commitment to protect and enhance the City’s character and heritage.
Streetscape improvements at four key strip shopping centres were undertaken in the last financial year. The improvement works involved new paving including feature paving, tree and garden bed planting, seating walls, new street furniture, installation of tactile pavers for the vision impaired and improved crossings for older people and parents with prams.
On another note, Council’s own buildings and facilities are undergoing improvements and being refurbished to improve access and ensure safety. A total of $158 million was spent this financial year to provide services and capital works to the community. Of these funds, more than $23.6 million was used to rejuvenate community assets and $5.8 million funded new and upgraded capital works projects.
One of the key projects underway is the Boroondara Civic Precincts Renewal (BCPR) plan where Council will upgrade the 1891 built town hall, 1920s built municipal office, demolish the 1958 additions and replace these with a new building, refurbish the offices in Camberwell and the ground floor office space at Hawthorn. The project will be completed over the next two years, with a guaranteed maximum total price (GMP) of $20 million which Council will fund within its existing budget.
Overall, the Boroondara Civic Precincts Renewal project will:
