General News
13 July, 2024
Aboriginal art designs top streetscape plans
A BENDIGO-BASED Aboriginal enterprise has been given the job of designing the revamp of Inglewood’s streetscape. DJANDAK was the only business considered by Loddon Shire Council for the project that will need government funds to became reality...
A BENDIGO-BASED Aboriginal enterprise has been given the job of designing the revamp of Inglewood’s streetscape.
DJANDAK was the only business considered by Loddon Shire Council for the project that will need government funds to became reality.
The shire says Brooke Street will have prominent representation of Djaara cultural values and expression.
Monday’s announcement by council said the design would “recognise and balance the unique heritage of Inglewood, including its history with gold and eucalyptus, as well as the significance of first nations, and proximity of the town to Kooyoora State Park”.
Djaara has been put at the centre of revamping the streetscape after community calls for revitalisation over more than 20 years.
The shire’s tourism and economic development manager David Stretch said: “The project team received a procurement exemption to appoint DJANDAK as a sole supplier with unique intellectual property and expertise to appropriately represent and integrate local first nations design elements into the urban design of the project.”
“Engaging DJANDAK directly for the design eliminates the need to involve a third-party design firm, who would then need to engage the Dja Dja Wurrung for design input. The streamlining of the process through direct appointment has delivered best value to project and the rate-payer.”
Council says the DJANDAK design and project “will benefit from whole-of-community consultation with input from Djaara cultural knowledge holders as well as a community advisory group”.
The group will have representatives from Inglewood Development and Tourism Committee and Brooke Street retailers, health, education and transport, Inglewood Town Hall Community Hub and Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House that runs from the hub.
Current Inglewood Ward councillor Wendy Murphy has been appointed chair of the group.
Cr Murphy is yet to make a decision on whether she will seek re-election to council when the shire goes to the polls in three months.
Manager of the DJANDAK design team and leading senior landscape architect Claire Reynolds will head the landscape design component with landscape architect Georgia Carroll. Work by DJANDAK is featured on the new Bendigo Law Courts with other recent projects in Meninya Street, Moama; Monash Drive, Swan Hill; Warrenheip Street, Buninyong; Kinglake streetscape; Cohuna CBD; Shepparton’s railway precinct linkages
“We are really excited to have engaged an entity with such expertise who has proven, demonstrated success in contemporary urban design,” Loddon Shire Mayor Gavan Holt said.
“DJANDAK’s expertise in streetscape design to balance the needs of pedestrians, traffic, residents and visitors will ensure a functional and positive outcome for community, businesses and visitors.
“We are looking forward to seeing the evolution of the streetscape design for Inglewood.”
Entering the design phase comes after decades of advocacy to revitalise the streetscape, with the community and Inglewood Development and Tourism Committee helping develop an earlier concept masterplan for the streetscape before an Aboriginal component was was added,
Council says the new design “will concentrate on encouraging intuitive stopping for residents and visitors traveling in any direction, as well as accessibility improvements to enhance Inglewood’s retail and community experience”.