The Shire of Campaspe’s commitment to project management has been recognised after it received the Chairman’s High Commendation Award for the “Rushworth Walk Thru Time” at last month’s Project Management Achievement Awards.
Mayor Neil Pankhurst said the awards, hosted by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), were established to recognise and promote outstanding achievements in program and project management.
Campaspe is one of only four councils to have earned corporate membership with AIPM, the peak body for the profession in Australia.
“The winning project, Walk Thru Time, is the result of a collaborative community planning exercise between community groups, business, Local Government and state government,” he said.
The project aimed to upgrade and improve infrastructure and attractions in Rushworth’s historic precinct for locals, visitors and tourists, through highlighting the heritage aspects.
Mayor Pankhurst said a group of six local organisations, in conjunction with Council, developed a comprehensive plan to upgrade the heritage precinct.
Works involved many activities including upgrades to the Shire Hall, landscaping of the High Street median strip, restoration of damaged brick gutters, construction of a display shelter for the steam traction engine, upgrading works at the Rushworth Museum and Masonic Lodge, installation of solar powered street and park lighting along the walking trail.
Other tasks included development of information plaques on Rushworth’s numerous historical buildings and landmarks, as well as important refurbishment works at the old Goods Shed near the skate park.
Councillor Pankhurst said the project was first initiated in 2006 when the Rushworth District Plan Group identified the need to capitalise on the heritage aspects of the township.
“At that point objectives of the project were identified, funding opportunities reviewed and submissions made to Local Government, state government and local organisations to support the project,” he said.
The level of project management complexity was considered high because the works were dispersed across the township, each project was quite diverse and key stakeholders involved multiple volunteer organisations.
Mayor Pankhurst said it is important to develop relationships with the organisations, establish exactly what they want, explain the project constraints and then clearly compile all the information before commencing construction.
“The most critical task to the project success in a project such as Walk Thru time is to get agreement on roles and responsibilities of all parties and then follow the agreed project plans,” he said.
“The works were primarily building activities however design challenges were based around building and upgrading infrastructure to be compliant with current standards and regulations, whilst being sympathetic to the heritage.”
An example is installing accessible and compliant toilets in the historic Shire Hall, built in 1868, where designs were developed through negotiation with the Heritage Advisor.
“Project management is at the heart of what every Local Government does – delivering projects for the community,” Mayor Pankhurst said.
